Tweety just said that the news got worse as the day went on yesterday for Elizabeth Edwards...

[terip64]

and that the prognosis is not good. Is that true?? What did I miss?

[Critters2]

1. I don't know details, but if it's stage 4 bone cancer,

the prognosis can't be good. I've lost several friends to this. It's awful.

[kirby]

3. Its breast cancer, not bone cancer

The cancer in the bone is breast cancer, not bone cancer.

I still agree that things do not look so well.

[Critters2]

12. I'm sorry, you're right. Breast cancer met to rib bone.

Still poor prognosis.

[Hepburn]

6. Any cancer that is past Stage I...

...is VERY serious. Even Stage I cancer is bad news. I had NO clue that she was diagnosed at Stage IV. How very, very sad.

:cry:

That means, as I understand it, that the cancer has gone to other sites.

:cry:

[cassiepriam]

10. Stage 4, met to lungs, bones. And other organs. 20% survival rate 5 yrs post dx.

[Hepburn]

13. Yeah, that is about how I understand it , too.

Unforunately. The survival rate of Stage IV cancer is very low.

[Fresh_Start]

14. I read that the stage 4 - 20% five year prognosis is based on

first diagnosis. She was not stage 4 in 2004.

[cassiepriam]

19. Once she is formally dx with stage 4 she goes to that statistical category

in terms of prognosis. She doesn't keep the prior prognosis.

[Leopolds Ghost]

26. Yes, but LIZ might be saying that the Stage IV prognosis is dated from the original diagnosis.

[cassiepriam]

27. Oh I didn't understand that point. Stage 4 prog would be dated from time of Stage 4 dx.

[youngdem]

2. I'm sure John and Elizabeth called Tweety the first chance they got and told him everything

:eyes:

[LisaM]

4. It's kind of the opposite of what John Edwards said

He said the more of the diagnosis they heard, the more encouraged they were. Perhaps Tweety got it backwards.

[terip64]

7. Right. That's what I thought. He is just an idiot. I should have known. n/t

[Hepburn]

9. Hopefully....

...he got this completely wrong. He does get a lot wrong so this could be one of those things he shot his mouth off about without knowing the facts. Would not be surprised.

[terip64]

11. God, I hope so. He really does say some stupid things sometimes. nt

[peacetalksforall]

25. I'm convinced that Rove sent the points - fair game. Normal people

would be quiet. Considerate people would express best wishes. Political radicals who take orders will make her and them out to be horrible people. especially because the Edwards are the opposite - extremely intelligent to begin with which distinguishes them right from the starting gate.

If GE NBC keeps this up past the weekend, everyone will be able to judge for themselves.

GE = jugular - parallel to Rove.

[hang a left]

8. He did also say that all the tests weren't back yet.

I was under the impression that the jury was out still.

[terip64]

5. I thought that they said that she could live with it for years. I thought maybe I missed something.

[madrchsod]

15. where`s that fuck`n cat when ya need one

so the edwards or their doctor told tweety bird the prognosis....ok.,i`ll buy that

[shaniqua6392]

16. There was talk that the breast cancer may be in her lung also.

In any case this is not curable. It is only treatable to try to reduce tumors size. Everything depends on the aggressiveness of the cancer. It does not sound like she will live to a ripe old age no matter what they do. She was just trying to appear positive in the face of this horrible news.

[terip64]

17. She really is amazing. n/t

[hang a left]

21. That is what I heard also

It is very sad and natural that people would go into denial.

[Berry Cool]

29. No, it's not curable

but no form of breast cancer is ever curable. All you ever get with breast cancer, at best, is to be free of it and manage to avoid recurrences.

[Tanuki]

18. Maybe Bill Frist saw her interviewed on TV, made a diagnosis, and called Tweety. n/t

[BattyDem]

20. He contradicted everything John and Elizabeth Edwards said yesterday

Did they call Tweety today and tell him something different? :eyes:

Bottom line is this: John Edwards is still in the race, so they obviously believe the treatment will work. If he drops out, THEN we worry. :-(

[cali]

22. I only wish that were so.

but stage IV cancer is always something to be worried about.

[BattyDem]

23. I didn't mean to suggest that we shouldn't worry at all ... of course it's serious

What I meant was ... let's not get even more upset because of Tweety's comments. Both John and Elizabeth have positive attitudes and they're remaining optimistic. We should do the same. He would never stay in the race if Tweety's information was accurate. The Edwards' have the facts about her condition and believe she will do well with treatment, so I'm going to believe in that as well. :-)


edited for clarity

[Gloria]

24. VERY CLEAR report, pessimistic..bad thing is also her initial diagnosis was only in 2004...

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=health&id=5145053



Local cancer expert weighs in on Elizabeth Edwards' recurrence

WTVG-- March 22, 2007 - Dr. Iman Mohamed is the director of the University of Toledo Breast Center. She says Elizabeth Edwards' doctor mentioned other small "suspicious" spots elsewhere in her body, possibly in the lung. She says when the disease spreads only to the bone, survival rates can be 10 to 20 years. But when there's soft tissue involvement, like the lung, survival rates are reduced to anywhere from two to five, or maybe six years.

But she says every patient is different, and there are still many different treatment options for Mrs. Edwards. "There are lots of good options. There is hope. Definitely, but people need to be realistic, and that's what we always discuss with our patients, we're very optimistic, but our feet are on the ground. We're not flying. We're very realistic as well."

Dr. Mohamed says she was concerned to see that Mrs. Edwards' first diagnosis was only back in 2004. She says the cancer coming back so soon suggests it is aggressive. The doctor says the goal with stage four breast cancer isn't a cure and to one day be cancer-free, but treatment that will allow a good quality of life for as long as possible.

[terip64]

28. thank you for this information. nt