In an interview with Fox News Channel's Neil Cavuto, the former Tennessee senator, 64, said a doctor conducting a physical in 2004 found a bump on his neck, which turned out to be non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He said the disease is in remission with no illness or symptoms...
Cancer is getting quite a bit of attention in the political news these days, what with Elizabeth Edwards, Tony Snow and now another prominent name announcing that he has been treated for what I call the "cowardly affliction." Today possible presidential candidate Fred Thompson revealed that he has been treated with the anti-CD-20 monoclonal antibody rituximab for a marginal zone lymphoma found in a cervical lymph node. Both Thompson and his medical oncologist Dr. Bruce Cheson stated that the former senator and actor is still in remission.
That's it, folks. That's all I can glean out of the 350 news stories bouncing around the internet. I suppose it would be inappropriate to give out all the details of Mr. Thompson's lymphoma, but at this med blog we pride ourselves on asking the hard questions, and if I was a reporter attending that press conference I would stand up and ask for a little more information about his illness, especially since Thompson is thinking of running for president.
"Yes, you in the dingy lab coat in the back - do you have a question?"
"Thank you; I have several questions if you please.
"One: What type of marginal zone lymphoma does he have? Extranodal? Nodal? Splenic? Gastric-associated MALT? Disseminated?
"Two: What is his Ann Arbor stage, and more importantly, what is his FLIPI score?
"Three: Did the rituximab put him into complete remission, or was he already in remission when he took the treatment?
"Four: Has the senator been tested for infection with Hepatitis C virus?
"Five: Are you planning on giving him maintenance rituximab?
"Six:
Any comment?"
"Sorry, I didn't understand your question - You seemed to be speaking in graphic form."
"What I asked was since the average overall survival for marginal zone lymphoma is nine years [top graph] but the average overall survival for nodal marginal zone lymphoma is only five years [bottom graph], and Senator Thompson stated his lymphoma was in a lymph node, can you tell us what the typical prognosis is for a patient with the exact type, stage, FLIPI prognostic index and age as Mr. Thompson?"
"No."
Like I said, folks, we know all the tough questions here at The Cheerful Oncologist, but are unlikely to ever get to ask them, let alone get a straight answer. Before I pull the lever for a presidential candidate with marginal zone lymphoma, though, I would like to know how things are going health-wise, if you know what I mean. His health, not mine. I feel just fine, thank you.
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If one was being truly heinous, one might leap to the conclusion that all these public figures suddenly coming out of the woodwork regarding their various 'battles with cancer' was an attempt to garner the sympathy vote. But then again, what politician would do that?
Craig, why don't you email Cheson directly? His bio at NCI is here and a little digging around the NCI site and Google should give you an email address.
Why shouldn't he run? VP Cheney is a walking disease surrounded by MDs who are there to treat him and any of his shooting victims.
Didn't keep him from being VP and get us into Iraq.
Maybe Thompson can get us out...
Besides he's a pretty good actor which should help him if he makes it to the White House.
I'd rather have Fred Thompson; for however long he's able to contribute; over any of the current front runners. There's not a dimes worth of difference between any of them on either side. Thompson offers something different; and frankly; thoughtful and refreshing.
Maybe I'm missing something, but why do you call cancer the "cowardly affliction"?
Inquiring minds (well, one, anyway) would like to know.
Thanks,
Jeanne
The Assertive Cancer Patient
www.assertivepatient.com
To Jeanne:
I find it easier to hate cancer by using pejorative anthropomorphic terms when talking about it. Also, cowardly means weakly or basely fearful in the presence of danger, and as you know once cancer cells get damaged or cut off from their growth signals they commit suicide, rather than continue to fight.
According to this article:
http://www.medpagetoday.com/HematologyOncology/LeukemiaLymphoma/tb/5424
Fred Thompson has nodal marginal zone lymphoma.
From your chart the average survival is about 5 years. But the chart is from an article written in 2000 and didn't include Rituximab as a treatment option.
Do you have any info on survival rates for patients treated with Rituximab?
Thanks.
There is an excellent chance that he will live a normal life span and will not have another occurrence of the disease. Cancer stands for "spreading" evil and it is anything the medical community can not stop with a pill or a treatment. Any disease that can not be stopped is a cancer...period. Some of these diseases kill and others do not. Lymphomas are usually very slow growing and making positive life style changes usually helps slow down the progression of the disease and many other diseases. Fred will be around long enough to contribute.... if he is elected.
"Cancer stands for "spreading" evil and it is anything the medical community can not stop with a pill or a treatment. Any disease that can not be stopped is a cancer...period."
So arthritis, heart disease; dandruff, strokes and AIDS are forms of cancer?
thank you