Tough verdict - Arlen Specter Has Hodgkin's Disease
Specter Will Keep Working In Senate
United States Sen. Arlen Specter (R., Pa.) has announced that he has been diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, in a press release from his office Wednesday afternoon.
In a press release, Specter, 75, said he had experienced persistent fevers and enlarged lymph nodes under his left arm and above his left clavicle.
The statement said Specter received testing on February 14 at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. The testing involved biopsy of a lymph node and biopsy of bone marrow.
The lymph node was positive for Hodgkin's disease. The bone marrow biopsy showed no cancer. A follow up PET scan and MRI established Specter has stage IVB Hodgkin's disease, the statement said.
Hodgkin's disease is a cancer of the lymph system. Approximately 7500 new cases are diagnosed every year in the United States.
His office said Specter is expected to receive chemotherapy over the next 24 to 32 weeks and he is expected to be able to perform all duties, including chairing the Senate Judiciary Committee.
"Senator Specter's Hodgkin's disease has a five-year survival rate of 70%. He is in superb physical condition, particularly in light of his daily squash regimen, " said Specter's oncologist, Dr. John H. Glick.
In the statement, Specter said: "I have beaten a brain tumor, bypass heart surgery and many tough political opponents; and I'm going to beat this, too. I have a lot more work to do for Pennsylvania and America."
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Specter has kept his post as the head of the Judiciary Committee despite criticism by conservatives of some of his social positions, including Specter's pro-choice stance on abortion.
Still, he remains one of the most powerful members of the Senate and is one of two Republican senators from the Keystone state.
The other, Rick Santorum, is up for re-election, but trails potential Democratic opponent Bob Casey Jr. in a Quinnipiac University poll issued Wednesday.
That survey shows Casey with an apparent lead over Santorum of 46 percent to 41 percent.
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Doctor Says Specter Has Excellent Chance Of Recovery
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