BREAKING: Senator Arlen Specter Diagnosed With Early Recurrence of Hodgkin's Disease

[Penndems]

Source: politicspa.com

April 15, 2008

Senator Arlen Specter today announced that he has been diagnosed with an early recurrence of Hodgkin’s disease. Hodgkin’s disease is a cancer of the lymph system.

Senator Specter’s recurrence was diagnosed based on a routine follow-up PET scan (Positron Emission Tomography) which showed small lymph nodes in his chest and abdomen. A follow-up biopsy of one of the chest lymph nodes was positive for recurrence. A bone marrow biopsy was negative.

Senator Specter has had no symptoms of Hodgkin’s disease aside from the PET scan findings. Based on the location of the recurrence and the absence of symptoms, his lymphoma is considered stage IIIA. This is significantly less advanced than his Hodgkin’s disease when it was originally diagnosed in 2005, when it was stage IVB. At that time, he was treated with 6 months of ABVD chemotherapy, and obtained a complete remission which lasted 3 years. Senator Specter will now receive the Stanford V protocol of chemotherapy weekly over the next 12 weeks.

It is expected that Senator Specter will continue to perform all the duties of his office as well as his activities associated with his candidacy for re-election.



Read more: http://politicspa.com/Specter415.htm

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The article goes on to say that the Senator's oncologist expects him to again achieve remission of his Hodgkin's.

Website for Senator Specter: http://specter.senate.gov/public/

[Zynx]

1. I wish him the best. He may be a Republican, but nobody deserves to suffer like that.

[Penndems]

3. Agreed.

He's in my thoughts and prayers.

[Faygo Kid]

17. Yup. No fan, but this is ugly stuff.

I trust we will all show a little class, and compassion.

He's fortunate to have terrific health insurance, though.

[Radio_Lady]

35. Damn. He's been through a lot in his life. My best to him and his family through this difficult

time.

I guess he'll lose his hair again. I just saw him interviewed and he was very upbeat about the "bald look."

Cancer is non-political. It can strike any of us, and more so as we grow older.

Cordially,

Radio Lady in Oregon

[PerceptionManagement]

39. Non sense. Sure he does. It's called Karma. Ask any Iraqi and most Iraq vets.

And 85% of Americans at large. He fucked up! He killed innocents. Too bad about the big C. Good riddance.

[MickBastard]

40. and I suppose it will come back at you

for comments like that. Classless.

[Name removed]

42. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Zynx]

45. I don't wish harm on anyone anymore. I got all hated out.

[TommyO]

47. As somebody who has had family members killed by cancer

FUCK YOU! Nobody deserves to have, suffer, and potentially die from any kind of cancer, and this includes Senator Specter. Hell, I wouldn't wish it on Bush or Cheney.

[LeftishBrit]

50. Charming. You sound like the Republicans who think that AIDS is a punishment for sin

I hope he recovers and lives a long and healthy life. I also hope he loses his seat to some wonderful liberal Democrat, but that has nothing to do with his physical health. We're all on the same side against cancer.

[Psephos]

66. Barbarian. I hope for better here. n/t

[goclark]

44. Prayers for him and his family

[Ian David]

2. The cancer bounced off his ribs, floated in mid air in front of him, & re-entered through the brain

But seriously, though.

I feel bad for the guy.

[heliarc]

32. Sorry for you Arlen...

But I wish I had your health plan.

[chelsea0011]

4. Damn shame. Good luck Senator.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

5. I rarely agree with The Good Senator...

But I agree with all people of good will in my wish for his return to remission and a continued long and healthy life.

[eleny]

6. Keeping him and all those like him but without health insurance in my thoughts

[Penndems]

7. Ditto, eleny

Here's hoping that every one of them beats this terrible disease.

[eleny]

8. Yes, in remission permanently

[DaLittle Kitty]

30. Very Good Point Giving Consideration To Those Lacking The Access To Healthcare That The Senator Has

Let's wish him a tolerable chemo treatment annd a speedy recovery... and to those lacking access to quality health care in America... Let's elect a Congress and a President with the courage to change this sad statement about how America cares for some, but not all of its citizens. We should trust the statement of the oncologist re: his prognosis I believe.... :)

[Yael]

9. He has done right by us most of the time.

Even Faux gives him a D from time to time. This is such sad news. :(

[Penndems]

12. He's been Pennsylvania's senior Senator for quite awhile

We may vigorously disagree with him many times, but we'll certainly keep him in our thoughts and prayers.

[saigon68]

48. Yes his Trampling of Anita Hill and support for LOng Dong Silver

Were certainly high points in his senate career.

And his cloned creation Thomas helped steal Al Gore's Presidency

[lark]

60. Actually, he initially is usually on the right (left) side of issues

but when it comes to voting, he switches and supports the administration. I hope he beats the cancer and gets beaten for his job by a progressive Dem.

[Wickerman]

10. that coincides rather poorly with Tweety's pseudo announcement

that he would run for Arlen's seat.
http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2008/04/chris-matthews-future-us-senator.php

[Yael]

11. Someone said that earlier and I thought it was a joke

Dear Lord, no. Not Senator Matthews.

[Penndems]

13. Senator Matthews? Do you mean Jim or Chris?

n/t

[Yael]

14. Tweety

I shudder at the thought.

[Penndems]

16. Is he considering moving back to PA and making a run for Senator Specter's seat?

I hadn't heard that.

[Yael]

22. It is in Wickerman's link. 2010.

[Penndems]

23. Saw it - thanks, Yael

n/t

[Penndems]

21. Whoa! This is all news to me

Had no idea Tweety was planning to quit his yakfest and move back to Philly to make a Senate run.

[RamboLiberal]

15. Best wishes Senator Specter - hope you beat it back again

Even though I disagree with your party and your politics - you're a decent man!

[OKthatsIT]

71. He's a liar and a trickster...and he betrayed US ALL

[bluestateguy]

18. I wish him well

He's a good man, in spite of our differences.

[RamboLiberal]

19. Early Recurrence Of Hodgkin's Found In Sen Specter (R-PA)

Source: KDKA

According to a statement from his office, a routine PET scan found small lymph nodes in his chest and abdomen because of Hodgkin's disease.

Specter had no symptoms of the cancer before the scan.

He's expected to undergo chemotherapy treatments over the next 12 weeks.

Specter was first diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease in 2005.

The senator plans to run for re-election in 2010.


Read more: http://kdka.com/politics/Arlen.Specter.Cancer.2.700541.html

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Feel bad for him. I don't agree with him most times but he's a decent man. Good wishes Senator Specter.

[maddezmom]

20. don't agree with his politics, but wish him well in his treatment

Cancer sucks. :(

[Catch22Dem]

24. Best wishes, Senator

[Jack Rabbit]

25. Get well soon, Senator Spector

[bluesmail]

26. Mr Magic Bullet has cancer

I'm neither glad nor unhappy. The Magic Bullet theory really fucked us up.

[Politicalboi]

31. I'm with you

He helped cover up JFK assassination. Not Instant but Karma anyway. Sorry but I don't have any sympathy for him or Tony Snow either.

[OKthatsIT]

70. He was the first to give 'powers' to the Military Industrial Complex

Had we stopped them back then, we wouldn't be in this mess now.

I think we can thank the corporate media, as well.

[TheCowsCameHome]

27. Best wishes for a full recovery, Senator.

[pecwae]

28. All the best to the Senator and his family

Cancer sucks.

[YvonneCa]

29. This is tough news...

...to hear. Keep fighting it, Senator. I wish you the best.

[KSinTX]

33. Tragic. Hope this is one battle he truly wins n/t

[williesgirl]

34. I wish him and his family well. Rec'd

[JeanGrey]

36. Good luck to him. I don't know how ANYONE can work doing

chemotherapy. I did it last year, Cisplatin, Carboplatin and Taxol. First chemo put me in the hospital for ten days. Four months of it about killed me. This year reocurrence - Now I'm doing Gemzar and Xeloda by mouth - the first night after Gemzar I had a high fever, chills, bone aches, throwing up, and a headache so bad it felt like my head was going to explode. I could only stand it by going in two days after infusion for iv fluids, iv dilaudid and phenergan.

After three my counts are so low I had to have a blood transfusion. Sometimes I feel I'm flunking chemo, LOL. My hat is off to anyone strong enough to stand it.

[leftynyc]

52. Wishing you a much easier ride ahead

Sounds like you're one tough bird having gone through this already. You're in my prayers.

[JeanGrey]

69. Thanks I am hanging in there.

[Penndems]

53. . . .

:hug:

You're in my thoughts and prayers, Jean. Just remember: You are not alone in this battle.

[Hawkeye-X]

37. My father had non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

So I wish Specter the best of luck and suggest that he resign his seat immediately so a Democratic Senator can be chosen to replace his "Magic Bullet" ass.

Hawkeye-X

[ChazII]

38. Best wishes and may he beat this beast.

[Eurobabe]

41. Oh that is too bad, no one should suffer from this

He's 78, I wonder if he can beat it again. :shrug:

He should concentrate on his health now. Get well Sen Specter.

[Hardrada]

43. Isn't that what was fatal to Jackie O?

I hope they have more effective treatment methods now for the sake of all so afflicted.

[Delphinus]

46. I feel for him.

I was at the VA yesterday and overheard another patient on his cell phone calling his wife (or perhaps his daughter) saying he had to go to the large "regional" hospital to have a PET. If it's cancer, again, he'd have a 30% chance. And he sounded pretty frail.

[LeftishBrit]

49. Hope he'll be fine

A friend of mine had Hodgkins as a teenager, and a recurrence 5 years later - when treatments weren't as good as now. She is alive and well 25 years later, and has two healthy children. So he should not give up hope.

[Olney Blue]

51. I wish him well- cancer is a tough disease.

[TBUSA]

54. My Mom died from Hodgkins

My Mom was diagnosed when she was 19 years old. She went on to marry and have six kids. Her treatment in those days was with radiation that burned her. Her upper chest was red and scarred. She would go into the hospital every two years so her progress could be tracked. I like to think that Her,and others who were treated in those early days, are the reason that many survive today.
She passed in 1968 from complications during a scheduled update...

[TBUSA]

55. OOps forgot to add, She taught us that if you can't say

anything nice about someone , don't say anything at all.

[Javaman]

56. That's a crappy form of cancer, had an uncle die of it. I wish him well. nt

[AlCzervik]

57. I wish him well.

[mitchum]

58. I propose a Single Treatment Theory

[Subdivisions]

59. All the best wishes I can muster for Sen. Specter. n/t

[dflprincess]

61. It's too bad his cancer is back

but at least he doesn't have to worry about his health care or how he pays the bills if the treatments make him too sick to work and all his paid time off is gone.

Most of us would not only have to deal with the stress of being ill, but also with the stress of paying for the illness. I hope Arlen spends sometime reflecting on that.

[caledesi]

62. Unfortunately, I hv lost my father and older brother (both at

the same age = 58) from Hodgkin's and my YOUNGER brother age = 40 to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma!

I hate cancer!

As an aside, my older brother was Hodgkin's-free after lst incidence for 5 years! It came bck w/ a vengeance. He died.

[Acadia Blue]

63. I liked him. He is one of the few half way decent republicans.

[bdamomma]

64. I wish him the best, no matter what a person believes

He does believe in stem cell research.

[jzodda]

65. Wish him the best

He's a fighter so I am sure he won't go down without a fight. He is also one of the few Republicans who could work on a bipartisan basis . He is a dying breed these days.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

67. Best wishes to Sen Specter

and his family.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

68. Best wishes to Sen Specter n/t