Report: John Gotti Has a Year to Live

N E W  Y O R K, Oct. 30 -- John Gotti, the alleged headof the Gambino crime family who is serving a life prison termfor murder, has neck and mouth cancer and doctors give him lessthan a year to live, The New York Post reported.

Gotti, 60, was sentenced to life in 1992 on murder andracketeering charges and is being treated at the Medical Centerfor Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Mo.

Doctors consulted by Gotti’s family believe the cancer canbe traced to neglect of his dental implants during hisimprisonment, the Post said in Sunday’s edition.

“Every medical expert so far feels there’s a link,” itquoted a source as saying.

Pulling Out His Own Teeth

The paper said Gotti had more than 10 dental implantsinstalled before he was sentenced in 1992, and began sufferinggum infections around 1995. It said Gotti’s condition got sobad that the so-called “Dapper Don” pulled out 10 of theimplants himself.

About two years ago doctors discovered cancerous tissue inhis mouth and neck.

“This kind of cancer, once it reoccurs, and even with heavychemotherapy, is hard to control,” the Post quoted a sourcefamiliar with Gotti’s condition as saying.

Gotti’s daughter, Victoria, a novelist, was visiting him atthe weekend, the Post said. His lawyer, Bruce Cutler, said hesaw Gotti two weeks ago. “His spirits were high as could be andhe looked great ... If anyone can beat this, it’s John Gotti,”Cutler said.