First lady on cancer: 'I was never sick'

[sabra]

http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/washington/index.ssf?/base/politics-8/1166711988150380.xml&storylist=washington

First lady on cancer: 'I was never sick'
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Laura Bush says she didn't disclose her skin cancer because she "never felt badly" and considers herself a private citizen. But now that word is out, the first lady said she hopes it will encourage others — particularly those with fair complexions like herself — to watch for the disease.

"I'm glad people will pay attention, if they have spots they don't know what they are," Mrs. Bush said in an interview with CBS' "Early Show" that was aired Thursday.

"In West Texas where I grew up, the sun is pretty intense," she said. "I never really did a lot of sunbathing like some of my friends did, because I didn't tan. But, of course, I played outside for my whole childhood and spent the afternoons at the swimming pool and did those things we all did growing up in Texas. So I was out in the sun a lot."

Mrs. Bush said she first thought the small spot on her right shin was an insect bite. But when it didn't heal, she had it biopsied and it was discovered that she had a squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common form of skin cancer.

[Marnieworld]

1. A private citizen?

Wow! That takes some nerve to say that considering that she makes speeches, benefits from living in OUR House, and wasn't she the answer to all of the gang violence? :sarcasm:

This also coming from someone married to a man who has no problem with monitoring our phone calls and email, and warrantless searches without notification. News flash Pickles: private citizens don't have any privacy anymore.

:grr:

[SoCalDem]

5. Pre-Nov 7th she was a very "public" citizen

as she flew in and out of almost every city in the USA..so she could trash every democrat who DARED to run against her husband's evil administration..

Like it or not, she signed on to be First Lady. True, we did not vote for her, but it's a packade deal, laura.

If she wanted to be a "private citizen" she could have married into a non-political family and George could have married his first fiancee.
We could have had a jewish First lady, and Laura could have been busily sending out overdue notices from the Midland Public Library.

George & the first fiancee.. picture and announcement was is the paper and then...whoosh..it was over.. (methinks a jewish girl marrying into the waspy family went over like a lead balloon)..

[Marnieworld]

21. juicy trivia

I never knew that one. I wonder if he would have converted like he did with Laura? I wish we had a transcript of Babs' comments.

[bedazzled]

26. i'll bet that gal gives thanks every DAY that the wedding fell through

she looks too sweet and nice to be married to someone like him.

love the rod serling haircut!

[Benhurst]

11. Private citizens don't get better than world-class health care in the United States

at the taxpayers' expense.

Yeah, take care of your health, peons, if you can afford it.

The World's Only Superpower -- what a dump!

[lebkuchen]

19. Just another repub who thinks she can have it both ways

[Ian David]

2. Hey, Picklefrau: Protecting the ozone layer would be nice. n/t

[Ezlivin]

3. She's so medicated she'd never know she was "sick"

I swear she looks like someone on an opiated IV drip.

[Anus Retainus]

4. She's high

I think Pickles got some of that there "Medical Marijuana".

[yardwork]

6. The White House mishandled this badly

This was an opportunity to announce something that would have generated some sympathy and approval for Laura Bush - and the White House - by a lot of Americans. Instead, it was totally botched. More evidence that the wheels are falling off the bushco public relations wagon - which is very interesting all by itself.

[DoYouEverWonder]

10. A real First Lady

would have turned this experience into an opportunity to teach others the importance of early detection and treatment.

Someone in her position and place could have saved 1000's of lives just by raising awareness. Of course, the Bush's only think about themselves, so this was never even a consideration.

[LostinVA]

14. Correct -- like Betty Ford

A very brave ady whom I personally very much admire, regardless of politics.

[Skittles]

24. I am with you there

I loved her - she didn't hide alcoholism or breast cancer - she was upfront and honest and helped countless people because of it

[Skittles]

23. yes

heaven forbid she use the opportunity to educate Americans on a very deadly disease that has a very high survival rate if caught early - gawd, those elite bastards only think of themselves don't they? :puke:

[kestrel91316]

7. (kestrel taps Pickles on shoulder): Hey, Pickles -

you don't EVER feel sick from a figgin' squamous cell carcinoma unless you let it get so huge and infected and disfiguring that it requires major reconstructive surgery or amputation.

This remark was a play for attention and sympathy if I ever heard one........Oh, brave Pickles, she's keeping a stiff upper lip.

It was a little SCC, for pete's sake. It wasn't a melanoma, which is in a whole different league.

[San Diego]

8. "I was never sick"

Bullshit, you freaking ignorant cow.

If you were "never sick" as you so claim, why are you on so many medications that your own daughters could be slaughtered in front of you and you wouldn't blink?

Sick from cancer? Probably not?

Sick in the head? That goes without saying.

[Bridget Burke]

9. "Private citizen" my ass.

She's supported by the US taxpayer. Room, board, transportation & medical care.

Why didn't she make a simple public announcment? She could recite some skin cancer statistics, then urge everyone to have any weird spots checked out at their yearly physical. And she could mention the importance of a referral to a Dermatologist; simple excision of a melanoma can come back to haunt you, big time.

But--what about Americans without health insurance, who can't see spending money on a "minor" symptom? What about the ones with HMO's that are stingy about referrals to specialists?

[LeftishBrit]

18. It would be a good thing if she did so.

It may indeed be somewhat selfish of her not to do so. But it's her right IMO.

I think that the health insurance issue is a different one, and is indeed scary. I hope you can get it sorted - any chance with the new Congress? Even though we've had successive governments running down the NHS here, at least we still have one. Health shouldn't be something people need to be well-off to preserve.

[JohnnyLib2]

12. My wife is a better person;

she had breast cancer and was "never sick" either. She has been open about the entire process and has been answering other women's questions and offering support for 20 years. That's informally; there is a lot more formal volunteer work. After the initial scare, I've grown to appreciate her for this part of our lives.

The contrast with L. Bush is stunning.

[LibDemAlways]

13. No "private citizen" has SS protection round the clock,

lives in the WH and entertains on the taxpayer dime, has a taxpayer paid 747 at her disposal, has a taxpayer supported staff, and is married to the guy who (unfortunately) was sworn in as POTUS. What a crock of shit.

[truthisfreedom]

15. "I was never sick." That's debatable, Mrs. First Lady.

So is your status as a "private citizen."

Elitist weirdo.

[nini]

16. I'm not quite sure why everyone thinks she had to announce this

She has a right to her privacy and if she needed to get through it then fine.

I do think she should use her experience to educate people as she's in a very unique position to get the publicity to do so. BUT it is her choice - the fact she is a stepford wife of the asshole in chief doesn't mean she wasn't entitled to dealing with the situation the way she wanted to.

[LeftishBrit]

17. I agree

She has a right to her privacy. I admire Betty Ford, for example, for the way that she used her own health problems to help others in similar positions - but she wasn't *obliged* to do so.

A leader should disclose his/her own health situation if it is, or could be, relevant to his/her official duties; but she isn't in an official position herself, so it doesn't apply to her.

[Contrite]

20. What an uninformed clod.

You don't "feel badly" with a squamous cell carcinoma.

IT'S NOTHING. As the article says "second most common form of skin cancer".

People get these removed all the time. And the press makes a BIG DEAL out of it because it's Laura Bush.

This makes ME "feel badly" (sick).

And by the way, Madame Librarian, it's commonly accepted that one says "I feel bad" not "badly".

[Skittles]

22. you're married to that piece of shit bush

believe me lady, you're sick

[karlrschneider]

25. Never 'felt badly'? So apparently her fingers worked just fine.

:eyes: