A Personal Cancer Struggle -- In the Public Eye

March 23, 2007— -- Since arriving in the office this morning and learning of Elizabeth Edwards' breast cancer recurrence, I have been trying to piece together the story of what happened and what the impact may be on Sen. John Edwards' presidential campaign.

I have been fascinated (if that is the correct word) at the guessing games that have been going on both about her health and his campaign.

Now that I have had a chance to see the news conference, it is clear that all this speculation about the senator suspending his campaign was way off the mark.

I do believe it's important from a medical point of view to bring a sense of rational discussion to the situation surrounding Mrs. Edwards' disease and her potential treatment.I have learned from experience that trying to guess about a particular person's situation is a dangerous game, and frequently incorrect.

One also learns to respect the privacy of celebrities when it comes to their health. Should they wish to share information, fine. But when they don't, it is equally important to take note of that decision and act accordingly.

The Edwards' were very open today about what is transpiring in their lives. There is still much that is unknown, and much that is unknowable.

What is clear, both from their comments and the comments of her physician, is that they have apparently provided us with all the information that they know, and perhaps even more than some of us would have expected.

Let's take a look at what we do know.

Elizabeth Edwards is 57 years old. She had breast cancer diagnosed in 2004 during the presidential campaign. I have heard that she had chemotherapy and radiation therapy for her cancer, but we don't know the actual type of chemotherapy that she received nor do we know the characteristics of her breast cancer.