Fred Thompson has lymphoma

[wonder cow]

This is becoming a trend. (http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/04/11/thompson.cancer/)

So the strategy for 2008 is to announce that you or someone close to you has cancer.

If you ask me, the guy is doing this for sympathy. (jab)

CNN) -- Fred Thompson, the former Republican senator from Tennessee who has said he might enter the 2008 presidential race, has been diagnosed with a treatable form of lymphoma, according to a source close to him.

Lymphoma is a type of cancer involving cells of the immune system.

The source is familiar with Thompson's deliberations on whether to jump into the 2008 presidential race and told CNN's Candy Crowley that Thompson has been discussing his illness privately "for some time."

[speedracer]

At least it's treatable. Good luck to him.

[Stoner]

It's extremely important that presidential candidates be up front about any conditions they have for obvious reasons.

[Buck Laser]

It's extremely important that presidential candidates be up front about any conditions they have for obvious reasons.

Trouble is that no one can really predict how non-Hodgins' Lymphoma will proceed in anyone's system. I have two friends with non-Hodgkins' both in their fifties. The woman has had it for years, has never been symptomatiic, and may never be. The man nearly died from a second round of chemo, and is in a nursing home now, apparently with little hope of ever resuming a normal life. His family, who thought they had good insurance, is facing financial ruin, by the way.

[Stoner]

Thompson is fine. It's treatable and will live a normal life expectancy.

[wonder cow]

His family, who thought they had good insurance, is facing financial ruin, by the way.

That's really a damn shame. We treat seniors like shit in this country, and no one seems to care a whole lot. Most nursing homes are shit, from what I understand. Home health options are not much better.

I don't know exactly what can be done to improve the situation.

[Buck Laser]

His family, who thought they had good insurance, is facing financial ruin, by the way.

That's really a damn shame. We treat seniors like shit in this country, and no one seems to care a whole lot. Most nursing homes are shit, from what I understand. Home health options are not much better.

I don't know exactly what can be done to improve the situation.

Actually, my neighbor isn't an older guy. He's in his mid-50s, and, at 71, I don't consider that old. Because I have good supplemental health insurance from my last employer, plus medicare, I don't have a lot of financial worries about my health. My neighbor thought his coverage was OK, too--until this resource-draining illness came along.

But that's another topic--health care for all--and I'll try to start a thread on it. If we're lucky, we can get some REAL dialogue.

[wonder cow]

Actually, my neighbor isn't an older guy. He's in his mid-50s, and

Oh..I just assumed since he was in a nursing home. I guess that was just for rehab purposes.

[Buck Laser]

Actually, my neighbor isn't an older guy. He's in his mid-50s, and

Oh..I just assumed since he was in a nursing home. I guess that was just for rehab purposes.


It would probably be easier for him if he were a senior. I don't know whether he's eligible for Social Security disability benefits or not, but his insurance company has quit paying, and his wife is afraid they'll lose their home. No one can predict when a disability like this will strike--which is why we must got to universal health care. Of course, some certain few on this board would just say f__k 'em, in order to preserve a "principle."