Thompson's illness is slow, serious

[cali]

By Robert S. Boyd - McClatchy Washington Bureau
Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, September 13, 2007
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A7

FRED THOMPSON The GOP presidential contender says he's figuring on a normal life expectancy.

WASHINGTON -- Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson has a rare type of cancer that specialists say is incurable but not life-threatening over the short term.

Although the 65-year-old former senator and actor says his disease is in remission, studies of other cases indicate that it's likely to return within the next two to five years.

But cancer experts say his malignancy -- a slow-growing disruption of the immune system known as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma -- can be well managed with drugs and needn't interfere with normal activities.

<snip>

http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/376419.html

Whether it should or shouldn't, if ol' scrotum face gets the nom, this is going to be a factor.

[liberal N proud]

1. Let's see they are concerned about Edwards becoming president because

his wife has cancer but we are supposed to elect a republicon who has cancer?
Just another republicon double standard.

[wildhorses]

2. i had to pass a physical to get my job

:eyes: pre-existing conditions are not covered by my insurance for the first year. just sayin' :shrug:

[babylonsister]

3. Sorry, I'm all compassioned out for certain people. nt

[madokie]

4. ole fredie will never get out of the gate

what exactly does he have to offer anyway

[opihimoimoi]

5. The man is TOAST

[madokie]

12. and burn't toast at that

I have yet to see what any re:puke: could see in him other than a person who has no ideas of his own and would be easily led by the same criminals who brought us saint raygun, bush1 and jr

[opihimoimoi]

53. Bush the Loser has a Losing Record...Always had been one...and the GOP chose HIM..Now..they lose too

Losers don't last...Odds catch up sooner and sometimes later....,

[PCIntern]

6. Yes, you can manage it with drugs...

until you can't manage it anymore.

I'm familiar with this stuff...many patients in my practice have had it and they live 'indefinite' lifespans.

Trick is...look up the word 'indefinite'...it's like the word 'notorious' often misused and/or misinterpreted.

[KharmaTrain]

7. Thompson's Already A Dead Man Walking

Novakula and George Swill put the spike in him the other day. Lots of little hit pieces have been turning up in recent weeks about his wife's pissing off campaign people, underwhelming money raising (hopefully the FEC is still investigating) and now this ditty.

The other day I saw a poll that showed Thompson picking up the support McCain lost after he pissed off the racists by supporting booosh's Amensty bill. It's nice to see Fred's got the Tim McVeigh wing.

Now Freddy doesn't want to talk about Jebus? So much for being the great white hope of the Dobson horde.

[Olney Blue]

8. He also admitted that he doesn't always go to church.

Bad political move in regard to the GOP fundie base.

[durrrty libby]

9. Ahh...no wonder he looks extra super crappy

[Felinity]

10. Why did he enter the race?

I heard him say something to the effect of, 'Well, I looked at the situation and I saw an opportunity.'

Definitely leadership potential. :sarcasm:

[Virginia Dare]

23. My guess is that wifey is pushing him hard..

she sees this as her "window of opportunity".

[havocmom]

42. or 'widow of opportunity'

;)

[Horse with no Name]

11. Personally I have an issue with this

We elect our President, not the Vice President.
Who knows what these goobers have in mind?
Besides, haven't we already been through this with President Bartlett?;)

[Virginia Dare]

22. Maybe this is the set-up for Jebby?...n/t

[Horse with no Name]

24. or someone equally as reprehensible

I was thinking Newt.

[LiberalFighter]

13. What is a normal life expectancy for one like him with his cancer?

How much time will he spend in the hospital 2 years from now? (That would be Sept 2009, 9 months into the term)

[Horse with no Name]

14. My best guess is that he wouldn't finish his term

which would be why who he chose as his VP would be of the utmost importance.
Right now--I'd almost bet he would sneak in a PNAC'er to finish the job Georgie started.

[DesertRat]

16. My father was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma at age 33

He's now 76 and going strong. :)

[TwilightGardener]

18. ...

:-)

[havocmom]

43. What party?

Maybe we should consider running him? :D

[DesertRat]

50. He's a Liberal Democrat

Just like my 76 year old mother. :)

[havocmom]

51. Where do I send the campaign donation?

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Give them a hug for me. I miss my folks and am happy when others talk favorably of theirs.

[DesertRat]

52. Thanks

I'm very fortunate.

[Progressive_In_NC]

34. My dad has not been to a hospital in the 6 years since he';s been diagnosed, he's 63

Had some treatments at an outpatient center, but nothing bigger than that. Doctors expect the big guy to make it to his mid-70s.

[bunkerbuster1]

15. At the risk of sounding terribly insensitive...

Is there any GOP candidate that isn't more or less fatally (no pun intended) flawed?

My God, Huckabee is starting to look like their best bet. And if that happens, wait until America hears about his support for the loony 30% "FairTax" on all goods and services...

[TwilightGardener]

17. Did you see him last night? He appeared unshaven/unkempt, and railed

on and on about a "theological war"--that's what he thinks Iraq is about--us fighting the Islamic world. Scary wackaloon.

[bunkerbuster1]

32. No, didn't see him last night...

but I take heart in knowing that this nation hasn't elected a bald President since Ike.

[peaches2003]

19. Jackie Kennedy

died of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

[TwilightGardener]

20. As did Paul Tsongas.

[Virginia Dare]

21. He doesn't look to me like it's in remission..

I'm no doctor but he appears rather ill to me..:shrug:

[PCIntern]

25. Years ago I had a patient who was very ill

but quite stable.

When people asked her if she was OK, she would just reply, "Yeah I'm OK, but in the morning, I won't let my husband out of bed for at least an hour and a half and you-all know what you look like after all that."


Believe me when I tell you that folks left her alone after that response.

[Virginia Dare]

27. So, do you think he's up to being the President?

based on your observations of him?

[PCIntern]

29. I have absolutely no idea...

I don't think he really wants to be President...but I said that about Junior too, so what do I know?

He looks haggard and tired, but that's not a diagnosis. And despite reports to the contrary, I'm not Frist.

I will say that Junior's having his problems, no doubt about that.

[Virginia Dare]

33. Any guesses at what Junior's problem is?

I realize I'm asking you to step into Dr. Frist's shoes again, but honestly, there's something seriously wrong with him, and it's not LYME disease, and I think they're masking it with a lot of meds.

[PCIntern]

36. I'd hazard a guess:

he's impaired secondary to drug and alcohol use; that he had moderate psychiatric issues as a young man and they have not been addressed, and so they have been allowed to, well, 'explode' - for want of a better term.

He exhibits a lot of neurological symptoms...stay tuned.

[TommyO]

26. Maybe he wants the job for the kick-ass medical care. n/t

[Virginia Dare]

28. That's why Cheney wanted the VEEP slot, I'm sure...n/t

[Virginian]

30. Touche n/t

[TwilightGardener]

31. One of the most stressful, demanding jobs in the world, and

a guy with cancer that can easily come out of remission is a top choice? Just the stress and fatigue alone can weaken his immune system and bring about a relapse--he's a ticking time bomb. This SHOULD be a disqualifier, except that the Repugs are desperate. What a disservice to the American people for this selfish and arrogant man to waste his time and ours running for President--we deserve, at the very least, a healthy and energetic President who's up for the job. (Yes, I know, JFK and his Addison's--Thompson is no JFK. Just an overblown and unqualified egomaniac.)

[global1]

35. Hmmmm - Let's See -Who Would Make A Good VP Running Mate?.......

Oh - I know - Jeb Bush.

[havocmom]

44. Nah, a more electable farce, who will then resign to spen more time with family

Jeb gets appointed as VP after election. No way America elects another bush, even with California's electoral votes split to shut off the liberal coast.

[SidDithers]

37. Saku Koivu, of the Montreal Canadians...

was diagnosed in 2001, but has still managed to continue a professional sports career.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saku_Koivu#Battle_against_cancer

Sid

[TwilightGardener]

38. Yeah, and if he relapses or dies...what are the ramifications

for our nation and the world? Uh, none. Not saying that people can't survive with it, just saying that you shouldn't be a candidate for the leader of the free world.

[SidDithers]

39. I don't disagree...

my point was that a professional athlete stresses their body as much or more than a President would, so NHL isn't necessarily a death sentence for someone in a high stress position.

And cut it with this "leader of the free world" bullshit. The rest of the free world doesn't recognize your president as our leader.

Sid

[TwilightGardener]

40. LOL! Just a saying, take it easy--I don't recognize our President as a leader either!

And Fred's elderly--more susceptible at his age to a relapse. Different odds than a young athlete.

[SidDithers]

41. *grin*...

I think I got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning :)

:toast:

Sid

[liberalitch]

45. My brother is currently in remision for that.....

.... his doctor told him that it could come back and kill him at any time.

[mitchum]

46. FRED THOMPSON IS DYING

yes, indeed

[onenote]

47. too much fristian speculation for me

There are many types of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and speculation based on the fact that this person died at a particular age or that person survived years after being diagnosed are pretty ridiculous unless you have specific information as to the particulars of the disease as manifested in these people and Thompson.

[in_cog_ni_to]

48. He's only 65 years old??? OMG...I thought he was, at least 80 or older. Hillary's 60 years old next

month! He's only 5 years older than her? He looks old enough to be her father!

[Gabi Hayes]

49. I REALLY really want him to stay very healthy until he gets the nomination.

If Giuliani gets it, which the M$M is looking more and more to want as their preferred narrative, he's going to be very difficult for any dem to beat.

did you see the Eric Alterman thread here?