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2007-04-11 Home Front: Politix

Former Senator Fred Thompson in Remission for Lymphoma

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Posted by Sherry 2007-04-11 10:01|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I want to see my colleagues on the campaign trial

Typo? Freudian slip? Intentional on Thompson's part? It IS pretty apt.

Posted by eLarson 2007-04-11 10:06|| http://larsonian.blogspot.com]">[http://larsonian.blogspot.com] 2007-04-11 10:06|| Front Page Top

#2 It's hard to understand what happened without more details -- lymphoma isn't a disease, it's a disease category; there are many types of lymphoma. Some are indeed very treatable, some less so.

Nevertheless, Mr. Thompson's campaign is over. We heard the same thing from Paul Tsongas (remember him?), and not long after he would have been elected, he had a relapse and eventually died from his lymphoma.

I guarantee you that if Mr. Thompson runs and gets any traction at all, those opposing him (primary or general election) will bring this very point up, and it will resonate with the public.

Good man, good politican, but I think this is an issue that will stop his campaign.

Posted by Steve White">Steve White 2007-04-11 11:43|| 2007-04-11 11:43|| Front Page Top

#3 Nevertheless, Mr. Thompson's campaign is over. We heard the same thing from Paul Tsongas (remember him?), and not long after he would have been elected, he had a relapse and eventually died from his lymphoma.

I'm genuinely sorry to hear that. Fred T gave me hope that I would be able to vote for somebody because I liked him, not because I disliked somebody else. I haven't been able to say that since Ronald Reagan's second term, and it bothers me.

So, back to the Mitt and Rudy show.

Posted by Jonathan">Jonathan 2007-04-11 12:00|| 2007-04-11 12:00|| Front Page Top

#4 More: Bill Frist's website has a post about this, including comments from Thompson's physicians.

The statement talks about an 'indolent lymphoma', which is indeed one of the better ones to have, if you're going to have a lymphoma. I did a little quick reading on UpToDate, and here are some quick points --

Indolent lymphomas are 30 to 40% of non-Hodgkins lymphomas (NHL)

Most common takes are follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma (this can be indolent or aggressive), and small lymphocytic lymphoma

There are others but these others are rare

For all indolent lymphomas, survival of the untreated disease is measured in years, whereas with aggressive lymphomas, survival of the untreated disease is measured in months.

Indolent lymphomas generally are not curable with conventional treatment. Even if treatment results in only a partial response, survival may be in years.

More as I do more reading. The Frist statement notes that there is no sign of the lymphoma on physicial examination and that Mr. Thompson is in 'full remission' (does that mean he was treated?).

Posted by Steve White">Steve White 2007-04-11 12:27|| 2007-04-11 12:27|| Front Page Top

#5 diagnosed in 2004 and treated with a drug, but stopped when it went into full remission, thats what his Dr. saying.

Posted by djohn66 2007-04-11 12:30|| 2007-04-11 12:30|| Front Page Top

#6 The news stories referred to marginal zone lymphoma, which has a few distinct types. Frist's post didn't give a subtype.

Posted by Eric Jablow">Eric Jablow 2007-04-11 21:23|| 2007-04-11 21:23|| Front Page Top

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