Former Texas Gov. Ann Richards Has Cancer

[johnnie]

In case you didn't see this in LBN

"AUSTIN, Texas - Former Gov. Ann Richards said Wednesday she has cancer of the esophagus and will undergo treatment at the world-renowned M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Richards, 72, went in for tests Monday and got the diagnosis Tuesday, said spokesman Bill Maddox.

Maddox said the former governor is waiting to hear from M.D. Anderson how advanced the cancer is and what her chances are.

"She's facing this challenge," Maddox said.

Richards, a Democrat, was governor from 1991 to 1995, losing a re-election bid to George W. Bush. Since 2001, she has been an adviser at a public relations and lobbying firm.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060308/ap_on_re_us/richards_cancer




I hope she beats this. She is a great woman.

[ceile]

1. She makes me proud to be a Texan....

and these days not many things do.....:cry:

[acmavm]

2. Sheesh, all the good ones are going, or gone. Hopefully she

will be all right.

[LSparkle]

3. This has been a tough week for good people and cancer

Dana Reeve passes away and now Ann Richards diagnosed. It's just not fair that these are the people who get sick ... I'm with you in hoping she beats this (and if anyone can, she can).

[rox63]

4. Crap!

Now two of my favorite Texan women have cancer. The other is Molly Ivins. :(

[ceile]

6. Molly has cancer?

What kind? When? I didn't hear about it.

[in_cog_ni_to]

14. Breast Cancer. She thought she beat it, but

recently found more cancer.:( She'll beat it
1 She's TOUGH!

[ceile]

17. Fingers crossed for everyone!

[Submariner]

12. One of my favorite "60 Minutes" TV scenes

Leslie Stahl was doing a "60 Minutes" piece on Ann Richards some years ago. Pre-2000 I think. Outdoors somewhere is a scene with Leslie talking to Molly Ivins. Then Ann Richards starts walking down a pathway yelling (paraphrasing) "Leslie! Leslie! What are YOU doing!?! Leslie answers: "I'm interviewing people who have an opinion of you like we agreed for the interview". Ann then replies with a higher panicky voice while waving her arms I think; "Ya sure...but not with HER!....not with HER! She won't tell you the truth"

While she was doing this Molly broke out smiling then everyone broke out into a good laugh as it became apparent they were long time friends.

[FreedomAngel82]

25. Aw

That's cute. Too bad there wasn't a video to see that. :)

[Radio_Lady]

23. Either of them smokers???

[ugarte]

5. I love her. I spoke to her once in an airport. She was wonderful..nt

[RufusEarl]

7. A real Texas treasure! she'll be in my thoughts and prayers

[in_cog_ni_to]

8. Damn. That's too bad.

"No child left behind is more like every child's behind has been left" (paraphrased, but close) Ann Richards on Larry King.

Sending positive energy to Ann and hoping for the best!:hug:

[Botany]

9. Fight Ann, Fight!

You have to live to see Karl Rove in jail. In 1994 Rove ran a rumor campaign that Ann was
a lesbian and an alcoholic in getting W into the Texas Governor's house. * said he wasn't
aware of "it."

Ann has esophageal cancer which is a bad one ..... but if anybody is tough enough to beat it
it would Ms. Richards.

[dogday]

10. My Boss got that in September of 93

and died in May of 94.... The Cancer metastasis to other parts of the body already and there was just nothing that could be done.... I still think of him, my favorite boss in the world... Such a shame... I hope Ann caught it early..... My thoughts and prayers are with her...

[DemoTex]

11. My dad is a three year survivor of esophageal cancer.

He had an esophagectomy at age 82, three years ago. They remove the esophagus and connect the stomach directly to the lower throat. My dad's stomach is up in his chest now. It was a bitch of a surgery (12 hours) and a bastard of a recovery (a week in ICU followed by another three weeks in the hospital). At 85 he is doing great.

I hope Ann is young enough and in good enough shape to get cured with chemo and radiation. My dad was too old for chemo and radiation. But if she is told to have the surgery, I wish her Godspeed. It was certainly worth it for our family.

[Submariner]

16. Good to hear that it can be survived

It hit my Dad at 73 and he withered away tremendously in the 3 years after surgery before he passed. He did say near the end that if he had it to do over again, given all the pain he went through, he would not have had the surgery. He was in much post-surgery/recovery pain, and picked up Parkinson's and gout along the way downhill.

In the future I will be getting an endoscopy to make sure I do not have to decide to go through what he went through. I think much of it has to do with inadequate pain diagnosis and management. Anyway, glad to hear you Pop got through the better side of the experience no one should have to suffer.

[0007]

20. My brother is a five year survivor of esophageal cancer.

They made a new esophagus from a piece of intestine.

[DemoTex]

21. Where was that done?

And how old is your brother? I try to stay on top of this, lest it is a family trait (which it is .. dad's older brother died from esophageal cancer while I was in Viet Nam in 1970). I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy last summer. What my radiologist brother calls a "Butt Lite." I was fairly clear, but I do have diverticulosis. Big deal. I just drink a big dose of Metamucil every day, and eat lots of spinach!

[wicket]

13. Oh no!

Ann will be in my prayers :(

[Just Me]

15. I have always loved that incredibly spunky broad!!!!

She really is exceptional!!! I hope she'll be okay. :hug:

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

18. The overall prognosis for esophageal cancer is poor

Prognosis and Treatment

Because esophageal cancer usually is not diagnosed until the disease has spread, the death rate is high. Fewer than 5% of people survive more than 5 years. Many die within a year of noticing the first symptoms. Because nearly all cases of esophageal cancer are fatal, the doctor's main objective is to control symptoms, especially pain and the inability to swallow, which can be very frightening to the person and loved ones

http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec09/ch131/ch131c.html

I always liked her. This is very sad news.

[Cleita]

19. Hasn't she beat cancer before?

I hope she will be okay. She's such a great lady. She was Governor when I lived in Texas. I can't believe that she lost to that horrid man. I can't believe anyone in Texas would have voted against her. When I was there everyone seemed to like her.

[Nikki Stone 1]

22. My deepest sympathies. I have great respect for her.

:kick:

[FreedomAngel82]

24. Aw

Stay strong! I hope she makes it through this.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

26. Wow. I hate to hear that. I have so enjoyed everything she's

written and said via interviews.

She is my kind of Dem.