Edwards, Wife to Speak to Press Thursday

[gldstwmn]

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1243915

Presidential candidate John Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, have scheduled a press conference Thursday at noon in Chapel Hill.

The campaign would not say what they would discuss, but observers have been awaiting an update on Elizabeth Edwards' latest breast cancer checkup.

According to a statement released Tuesday afternoon, she was expected to have a "follow-up medical appointment" Wednesday to a routine test she had on Monday.

"She's had similar follow-ups in the past, and they've all resulted in a clean bill of health, but Sen. Edwards has gone with her to these appointments, and he wanted to be with her tomorrow, too,” the statement said.

Edwards, who was in Iowa Tuesday on the latest stop of his 2008 presidential campaign, was scheduled to host a house party in Indianola. He canceled the appearance to fly home and attend the follow-up appointment.

Elizabeth Edwards discovered a lump in her right breast during the final days of Edwards' 2004 vice-presidential campaign. After chemotherapy, surgery and radiation, doctors declared her cancer was in remission.

"Today, I am cancer-free," she said in 2006. "So today, I am happy about my health."

She has since authored a book, "Saving Grace," in which she details her fight against cancer, the death of their 16-year-old son, Wade, and her husband's political campaigns.

[catinthedark]

oh, i hope this is not an announcement that her cancer has come back, and therefore he's dropping out. not because i care politically one way or another (not being american and all). i just think it would be sad if she was sick again. and this, to me, does not bode well.

[gldstwmn]

oh, i hope this is not an announcement that her cancer has come back, and therefore he's dropping out. not because i care politically one way or another (not being american and all). i just think it would be sad if she was sick again. and this, to me, does not bode well.

Agreed. I hope that she is okay.

[CelticGypsy]

I hope she will be okay. Thanks for this article. Been busy today so I haven't seen it yet. I really hope he doesn't drop out but would certainly understand if the news isn't good. Sending prayers their way.

[ELIUD]

I'm betting it's back. I feel awful for them. But if he drops out I bet Gore will throw his hat in for sure. This could change the whole democratic race.

[Rickypt]

Oh no
:distress: :distress: :distress: :distress: :(

Washington (WVLT) - CBS News is reporting that former North Carolina Senator John Edwards is suspending his campaign for President and may drop out completely because his wife has suffered a recurrence of cancer.

The network is citing its news partner The Politico which spoke to a friend of Edwards.

John Edwards' senior campaign staff members are keeping tight-lipped about the announcement.

Edwards and his wife will appear at noon, Eastern Time, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, for the announcement.

The news conference comes a day after Mrs. Edwards had a follow-up medical appointment for routine tests. She discovered a lump in her breast in the final days of the 2004 campaign, when her husband was the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee.

She wrote about her recovery from breast cancer in a book published last year called "saving graces." she had surgery and underwent several months of radiation and chemotherapy.

Portions of this story are copyrighted 2007 by the Associated Press. All rights reserved.

[gldstwmn]

It's stage four. The doctor is speaking on CNN right now. :(

[Rickypt]

It's stage four.

So very sad. I love this woman. She gave the best speech to Human Rights Campaign during the 04 election, speaking firmly about gay rights, and I thought at the time I wanted her to run for president.

[Rickypt]

Did they say if he's dropping out or suspending campaign?

[ELIUD]

I just heard on the radio that he's not dropping out and she expects to campaign with him while she can. That's good news. No mention of suspending the campaign either. Just continuing despite the diagnosis.

[estranged4life]

That is sad, I like the Edwards' (They're very loved in Oklahoma where they have a family retreat at Lake Tenkiller)...

Stage 4 scares the **** outta me when I see it mentioned.

[skcin]

Oh no. :distress: How awful for them. And I don't see how he'll be able to stay in the race for long.

[Rickypt]

Stage 4 scares the **** outta me when I see it mentioned.

Yeah, me too. Bad memories.

[mikeschmike]

Yeah, me too. Bad memories.

My stepdad's new wife was diagnosed with stage four bone cancer a few years ago, and has been in relatively good health for some time thanks to a great team of physicians at the Mayo Clinc. No doubt that Elizabeth will have access to the best treatment available, so I'm hopeful that she can pull through this as well.

[estranged4life]

My stepdad's new wife was diagnosed with stage four bone cancer a few years ago, and has been in relatively good health for some time thanks to a great team of physicians at the Mayo Clinc. No doubt that Elizabeth will have access to the best treatment available, so I'm hopeful that she can pull through this as well.

has the best care available to her. That's what made Debbie & myself sad when we visited the OKC chapter of the American Cancer Society - most people (They said about 90%) will not be able to have the proper care they need and/or cannot afford the treatments since most insurance policies won't pay for treatment of a wide varities of cancer. We left that office with our heads hanging in disbelief... (Thus why we participate in the annual "Relay For Life").

Debbie was one of the lucky to have full medical coverage, cause otherwise the outcome would not have been as good (She had Stage 2 Hodgkin's Lymphoma - which was caught very early. The tumor in her chests lymph-nodes was literally crushing one lung and crushing her esophagus, so she was nearing the point of not being able to breathe.)

[GODDESS6]

bless them, thru this awful time:distress: ~

[DrummerDeanna]

I was afraid of this...it just seemed odd to have a big press conference simply to say "I'm still ok" :distress:

So sad...I hope she pulls through this, like someone else said, she will have access to amazing medical care - so there is hope.