Former Texas Governor Ann Richards diagnosed with cancer

[WestHoustonDem]

AUSTIN — Former Texas Gov. Ann Richards says she has cancer of the esophagus.

The 72-year-old Democrat will undergo treatment at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

An aide says Richards went in for tests Monday and got the results yesterday.

Spokesman Bill Maddox says Richards is waiting to learn from officials at M.D. Anderson as to when she can check in.

Maddox also says the former governor is, quote: "facing this challenge."

Richards was the 45th Texas governor, serving from 1991 to 1995.

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/gen/ap/TX_Richards_Cancer_.html

This sucks. Most of you will remember her statement about Bush 41 - "Poor George, he was born with a silver foot in his mouth". She was a great governor.

[MadMaddie]

1. Dammit....she is a good woman....

She was a great governer...Hopefully she will beat it!!

[BlueEyedSon]

22. Dammit dammit dammit

[Lone_Star_Dem]

2. She's a great and strong woman

I hope she wins her fight with cancer.

Such sad news.

[kestrel91316]

41. Esophageal CA is not one of those fights that many win.

[babylonsister]

3. I'm very sorry to hear this; I have

nothing but admiration for Gov. Richards.
I hope she can beat this.

[xultar]

4. DAYUM. The bad news just keeps coming. I think there will be another

attack here in the US.

I remember before 9/11 quite a few people died. It was as if God didn't want them to be here for the madness.

[freesqueeze]

5. She was a great governor

I wish her the best.

Does anyone know if she's still a lobbyist for the tobacco industry?

[Bridget Burke]

7. Why don't you find out & let us know?

Eagerly awaiting...

[freesqueeze]

9. That's what I'm trying to do now

waiting along with you.

Someone knows, we won't be waiting long.

[freesqueeze]

10. I know that when she lost to Jr.

she went straight to work for the cig people.

[acmejack]

17. Reasonable point, tobacco is nasty & so is lobbying!

But I still like Ann a whole lot and wish her a quick and complete recovery.

All is not always goodness and light.

http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewPrint&articleId=5490

[AnneD]

30. Well.....

I know she drank and I think she smoked too. So it is not surprising. But that being said...I love and admire her dearly. She could still have a long and productive life. She has such a wonderful wit and I hope she will still remain an active speaker if possible. Don't write the obits yet folks, this is survivable. I'm pulling for you Ann....

[serryjw]

6. DAMN!

She was our keynote speaker at our 2004 CO state convention. She was great. My prayers are with her. Do we know how to send get well cards to her?

[Yavin4]

8. We're Losing Too Many Good People

My thoughts are with you Governor Richards.


It's time for our generation to step up.

[Dora]

11. Esophageal cancer is one of the bad ones.

Not that there are any good cancers, but it's my understanding that esophageal cancer is particularly swift and difficult. A distant uncle of mine just passed from esophageal cancer. I think he lived six months after the diagnosis.

We should all send our prayers, blessings, good feelings, and thoughts to Ms. Richards and her family. These are difficult times for them.

[Ayesha]

12. It can be

However my grandfather had it around 15 years ago and is still alive today, in his mid-eighties, and doing great. The surgery is very intense but he and others I know through my work have had good outcomes.

Prayers for Ann and her family.

[WestHoustonDem]

13. Love your sig line Ayesha! Welcome to DU!

:yourock:

[moobu2]

15. My Uncle had it also,

he went through treatment and so far he’s fine. It depends on how advanced the cancer was when they discovered it.

Good luck Governor Richards.

[Chovexani]

33. Seconding the welcome

Best sig line ever. :hi:

[dflprincess]

40. My friend's husband just finished treatment for it

He's had a long haul. The surgery is horrible and he had some problems with infection. Things looked pretty bleak at time, but as of now, his prognosis is good.

I hope Ann pulls through this.

[Infomaniac]

20. Yes, it is. A dear friend of mine is at the end of that road now.

Esophageal cancer is often caught too late for effective treatment. My friend was diagnosed in late September and is hospice care now. My thoughts and prayers go out to Ms. Richards and her family.

[HereSince1628]

29. Me too, lost a friend to it several years.

In the end I felt like a creep for having always been on her to quit smoking. For many years she stood on the steps of the building that housed biology (my dept.)and religion (her dept.) and I told her it blasphemed empiricism to smoke there at the entrance.

[Infomaniac]

36. Not that it matters

but my friend never smoked. The doctors believe hers may have been as a result of acid reflux. It's a tragedy any way you slice it. A kind, thoughtful, funny, compassionate woman of 45 will not be with us much longer.

[yasmina27]

21. I agree

My dad passed in Dec. from it. He was diagnosed Oct. 29, and was gone Dec. 11.

It really depends how early they catch it. Obviously, by the time they caught Dad's (which I still question - that poor man was poked and prodded in all the orifices of his body for various health issues, except for the one that mattered), it was too late.

[progressivebydesign]

25. My uncle had it, too. But he was a heavy smoker and drinker.

It took a toll on his body.

[AnneD]

31. Depends on when it is caught...

We had a lot of success and MDAnderson Cancer Center. It is survivable. She has many things going for her so don't write her off....

[NMDemDist2]

14. how sad, hope she wins yet another fight!

and she's the one who can do it!

[Czolgosz]

16. That's terribly sad. It is also sadly ironic that Ann Richards lobbied for

the tobacco industry after she left the Texas governorship. The world has never been right since Shrub beat Richards in that Texas governors race, she was a great governor.

[freesqueeze]

47. "The world has never been right since Shrub beat Richards"

amen to that!

[ernstbass]

18. That's a damn shame

I have a dog named after her! Such a classy lady.

[VolcanoJen]

19. Please have a speedy, speedy recovery, Governor Richards!!

:-(

[ceile]

23. Oh, No!

She makes me proud to be a Texan! Pull through, Ann!!

Could this day get any worse?!

[David Zephyr]

24. Best wishes for Governor Richards.

Sorry to hear this, but Ann has been a fighter for her entire life. I love this woman.

[progressivebydesign]

26. Healing wishes for Ann Richards. She's a great lady. n/t

[booksenkatz]

27. My beloved avatar

If anyone can beat this, Ann, you can! Our thoughts are with you in this fight.

[fleabert]

28. how horrible. I can only hope for the best for her.

I hope she is not in any pain. :cry:

she is one we should all remember when we fight for Roe v. Wade, she was instrumental in getting it to the Supreme Court, and assisted the lawyer who argued it.

[sonias]

32. Healing thoughts and energy to Governor Ann Richards

Come on Ann, you can beat this. So sad to hear this. First Molly Ivins had a recurrence of her breast cancer and now Ann Richards has cancer of the esophagus.
Cancer is a vile and evil disease that is all too common now.

Sonia

[Vektor]

34. Awful! She's a great lady...

My thoughts are with her and her family. She's a tough ol' gal. If anyone can beat this, she can.

[readmoreoften]

35. RAHHHH! NO.

She was my first favorite politician as a kid. I love that woman.

[MaineDem]

37. Oh no!

She's a great woman and a great Democrat!

Here's hoping she can kick this. Best wishes to her and her family as she fights this nasty disease.

[NastyRiffraff]

38. Fight, Ann, fight!

If my prayers will help, you certainly have them.

She's one of the great ones.

[truthisfreedom]

39. hang in there, Ann. we're rootin' for ya.

[cboy4]

42. I just love her. I'm so bummed!! Get well Ann!

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

:loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[1monster]

43. Godspeed, Governor Richards.

One of the two people living who have made me laugh so much it hurt. And a truly good person, too.

[WhiteTara]

44. my best wishes to you Anne Richards

one of my heroines.

[flaminbats]

45. why does this happen most to the best people in the world?

:cry: I've got those "Dallas Blues"..

[Kurovski]

46. God, but I love that woman.

All best wishes to her.