News & Politics - Elizabeth Edwards cancer is back

mcdreamylover · 03-22-2007, 09:07 AM

From CNN:

Quote:

Web site: Edwards to suspend White House bid
POSTED: 11:54 a.m. EDT, March 22, 2007
Story Highlights• Presidential candidate accompanied his wife on a doctor's visit Wednesday
• Elizabeth Edwards' breast cancer was thought to be in remission
• John Edwards cut short a campaign trip to Iowa to be with his wife

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CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina (CNN) -- John Edwards will suspend his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination to help deal with his wife's recurrence of breast cancer, the Web site Politico.com reported Thursday.

The Web site, citing a friend of the Edwards, said the candidate may drop out of the race completely.

Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, who was treated for breast cancer in 2004, have scheduled a news conference for Thursday.

Elizabeth Edwards underwent treatment for breast cancer after the 2004 campaign, in which her husband was the Democratic vice presidential nominee.

Sources earlier said Elizabeth Edwards had a routine follow-up appointment on Monday to check her breast cancer, which was believed to be in remission. According to sources, the doctor called back on Tuesday and asked her to come in again on Wednesday.

Elizabeth Edwards' breast cancer, invasive ductal cancer, is the most common form of the disease, accounting for 70 percent to 80 percent of cases, according to the American Cancer Society.

Recurrence rates for breast cancer are between 5 percent and 25 percent depending on type and treatment, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Almost 180,000 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, the Cancer Society says.

Edwards, who was campaigning in Iowa, cut short the rest of his schedule on Tuesday to fly back to be with her. The two of them went to see the doctor together on Wednesday, the sources said.

A blog posting on Edwards' presidential campaign Web site Wednesday evening was entitled, "We love you, Elizabeth."

Jennifer Palmieri, an Edwards spokeswoman, declined comment when contacted by CNN.

The news conference was scheduled for noon in the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

In a December 2004 interview on CNN's "Larry King Live," Elizabeth Edwards expressed confidence in the progress of her treatment for breast cancer.

"I just have a belief that I am going to beat this," she said. "Every indication is that all the news I've gotten really has been good news, so I feel pretty confident. I'm making those plans for the next 40 years."

She also said at the time that her husband would have her full support if he decided to run for president again in 2008.

"I think that he is a unique and powerful voice, and I think that it's a voice that we need on the national stage," she said.

John Edwards, a former senator from North Carolina, announced in December that he would again pursue the Democratic nomination. Among the party's hopefuls, national polls show him running third behind Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

On Tuesday, Edwards campaigned at Iowa's Biomass Energy Conversion Center, where he unveiled a plan intended to achieve energy independence and halt global warming. (Watch Edwards declare global warming a "huge emergency" )

Edwards and his wife met in law school at the University of North Carolina. They married in 1977 and have had four children. Their first child, Wade, was killed in a 1996 car accident.

In her 2006 book "Saving Graces," Elizabeth Edwards wrote about her life, including cancer treatment and the death of her son.

ETA they just had a press conference and he will continue to campaign!

migamoo · 03-22-2007, 09:55 AM

While I feel bad for him dropping out, I can totally understand. His wife should come first and her health is more important. I hope everything will be ok.

Lexis · 03-22-2007, 10:04 AM

When I read the blogs about the conference, I just started to cry. This woman and her husband are so tough and so amazing... What courage and strength they possess.

Religion is something that I struggle with but tonight, I'm tempted back to it because if anything can help this incredible woman beat this disease, its worth a go. If there is a God, let's hope he's listening.

SoLongSelf · 03-23-2007, 12:17 AM

The Edwards family is definitely in my prayers. This story hits way too close to home. My grandmother had breast cancer, later got bone cancer, and died about 9 months after she was diagnosed with the bone cancer. May they lean on and seek support in each other during this time.

jalapeno_wildchild · 03-23-2007, 07:37 PM

i wish her the best

missmin · 03-24-2007, 10:45 AM

Elizabeth Edwards is a really inspirational woman - and I just love John Edwards as a candidate. Though I am sure that eventually he will have to drop out of the campaign because of this, which is so sad when they've already been through so much. I feel awful for her and her family. She'll be in my thoughts.

missmin · 03-26-2007, 08:46 AM

Did anyone see the fantastic interview that John and Elizabeth Edwards did for 60 Minutes? It's such a good read, and it makes me like them SO much, and just hope like crazy that Elizabeth's cancer treatment goes well, because they're just amazing people.

There was a great quote from John Edwards about campaigning for president:

Quote:

"...there's not a single person in America that should vote for me because Elizabeth has cancer... Do not vote for us because you feel some sympathy or compassion for us. That would be an enormous mistake."

He seems like such an awesome guy, and like he's being very strong in the face of all this, and also like he loves his wife very much.

Do you guys think he'd get more votes from sympathy? I dont' think I do, but I dont knwo about, say, the general public or anything.

Lexis · 03-27-2007, 02:58 AM

They are so classy and handled it really well...although I gotta say, I wasn't a fan of Couric's style in this interview. Too much "some might say".

**sunnykerr** · 03-27-2007, 05:50 AM

I do think some people will vote for them because of the cancer. I was watching The View yesterday and Rosie mentionned that a friend of hers (whose mother is a breast-cancer survivor) said that she would absolutely vote for him now that she has seen the way the family is handling the situation.

And, in a way, I understand. We elect presidents for their character, right? And what better indication of a man's character than the way he handles a situation like this one?

Lexis · 03-27-2007, 06:20 AM

Hmmm...its one thing if you like his policies. But if its just because of the cancer news, I'm not sure that is the best way to do things. Because if he does become President, he's going to be President of the United States, not just the husband of someone fighting cancer.

**sunnykerr** · 03-27-2007, 07:17 AM

Oh, but I agree. Not just for the cancer news. Absolutely not. I'm just saying that the job of President comes with inherent crises. So if one saw character in the way he handles a personal crisis... wouldn't that make you think he could also handle national crises with character? I'm just saying...

But, absolutely, he should not be elected solely because his wife has cancer.

Lexis · 03-27-2007, 07:39 AM

Totally. I'm an Edwards fan from a while back, I think he's got the compassion, the intelligence and the personality for the job of President. The sad news about Elizabeth really upset me (more than I was expecting - I literally cried) but has shown that this is a couple who are strong and committed. It just confirms what I already assumed about John Edwards' character. That in conjunction with his policy plans makes him the candidate I'd like to see be President.

~*~Amber~*~ · 03-29-2007, 10:09 AM

That's so sad that cancer has to ruin peoples lives. I work with a lady that her 2 sisters have passed away from cancer... and now she just found out she had a cyst on her foot, got it removed, found out it was cancer... but it was going into the 2nd stage, but they got it all... So maybe she'll be ok... but when you hear about 'we've gotten it all' and it comes back.... you just never know anymore.

Amber


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