Fred Thompson Announces Lymphoma Diagnosis
April 11, 2007 — -- In the third cancer announcement to hit the political scene in less than a month, former Republican Sen. Fred Thompson said Wednesday that he has lymphoma, a type of blood cell cancer.
Thompson, 64, said in a statement that his cancer was initially detected during a routine physical two and a half years ago, and he initially received chemotherapy to treat it.
But Thompson's cancer is currently in a state of remission, unlike the recurrent cases announced by Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of presidential hopeful John Edwards, and White House press secretary Tony Snow.
This means, that for the time being, Thompson has no signs or symptoms of the cancer.
Thompson's cancer is also a case of "indolent" lymphoma -- a type of cancer that, while rarely cured, is slow-growing and associated with a much more favorable prognosis.
"I have had no illness from it, or even any symptoms," Thompson said in a statement issued Wednesday. "My life expectancy should not be affected. I am in remission, and it is very treatable with drugs if treatment is needed in the future -- and with no debilitating side effects."
Dr. Bruce Cheson, professor of medicine and head of hematology at Georgetown University Hospital, treated Thompson. He says the senator's prognosis is favorable.
"Some lymphoma are very aggressive, but people with slow-growing types, like Sen. Thompson's, often die from natural causes associated with old age, rather than from the disease," Cheson said in a statement, also issued Wednesday.
What Indolent Lymphoma Means
The word "lymphoma" is actually a general term used to describe more than 30 different types of cancer that affect the lymphatic system, all with varying degrees of aggressiveness.
"It really depends on the type of lymphoma you have as to your outlook," said ABC News Medical Editor Dr. Timothy Johnson on ABC News Radio Wednesday morning.
In Thompson's case, Johnson said, the fact that he is still in remission after his initial treatment is a positive sign.
"With a very slow-growing, or indolent, as we sometimes call it, form of lymphoma, sometimes in those people you just watch and wait and monitor the situation," said Johnson.
"It sounds like he's got one of those forms of lymphoma that is very slow-growing. Many people with this kind live a normal life span."
Indeed, current figures suggest that patients with indolent lymphoma can generally expect to survive for another seven to 10 years.
However, it is unlikely that Thompson's cancer is completely curable using current treatments. Since most cancer treatments today target fast-growing cells, it's hard for doctors to completely wipe out slow-growing ones.
Chance of Recurrence Remains
Even though Thompson is currently in remission, given the nature of the disease it is possible that the cancer could recur in the years to come.
After initial treatment, most patients with this type of cancer have a remission period of between 1.5 and 4 years, after which they will relapse. Doctors will then treat the cancer again, usually with a stronger course of treatment.
Subsequent periods of remission are often shorter than the first. But since these periods are measured on the scale of years, many patients can expect to live for many years after diagnosis -- perhaps eventually dying of old age rather than from the cancer.
This likely means that if Thompson is considering a serious presidential bid, it is unlikely that his cancer will hold him back.
"There's always a chance of recurrence with this, and any kind of lymphoma, at which point it usually can be treated again," Johnson said. "So I think at least for the next few years, he should be physically able to run for president."