Former President Jimmy Carter, during a news conference Thursday, said he’s at ease with whatever comes, as he he opened up about his recent cancer diagnosis. He plans to teach this weekend as scheduled. And on October. 1, Carter will turn 91.
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“Carter begins his first radiation treatment this afternoon. Now I feel it’s in the hands of God, whom I worship, and I’ll be prepared for anything that comes”. “But I’m going to have to give the treatment regimen top priority”.
He is now more hopeful and has not ruled out a planned annual house-building mission slated for November in earthquake-shattered Nepal. The trip would be the 33rd time he has traveled there to help build homes. Carter credited his religious faith with helping to ground him in the wake of the cancer diagnosis. After that procedure, a scan of Carter’s head and neck that same day revealed four “very small spots” on his brain measuring about 2 millimeters, he said. Two-percent develops first inside the body.
It was shortly after the liver surgery that doctors found the spots of melanoma on his brain, Carter said on Thursday.
Rarely letting his grin fade, Carter said he has not felt any serious pain or weakness, and slept for 14 hours the previous night after receiving his first chemotherapy injection. In the meantime, Jason Carter said he expects his grandfather to spend time with his wife and do a lot of fishing.
The younger Carter said his grandfather and grandmother called the family together to tell them the news. In the 38 minutes he spoke to the people assembled at the Carter Center, President Carter remained upbeat and calm, often bringing laughter to the room with characteristic humor and candor. “Unfortunately, before it goes away completely, some of its cells may have migrated to lymph nodes and elsewhere”, said Dr. Daniel Aires.
He said the best thing he ever did was marry Rosalynn, and that it was also an honor to have served as president.
Carter says a tumor showed up in an MRI after he sought treatment at Emory hospital in Atlanta.
Later, Obama tweeted: “President Carter is as good a man as they come”. But he cautioned against the idea that Carter can be “cured”. “The goal is control”, he said.
Former President Jimmy Carter discussed his biggest accomplishments and regrets in light of his cancer which he announced has spread to his brain.
“I’ve had a wonderful life”, he said. I’ve had an exciting adventurous and gratifying existence.
Geary said Carter was clearly not at ease having to cut back on his work at the Carter Center, where for decades he has helped to eradicate disease while also creating peace and democracy throughout the world.
Carter was asked Thursday about the highs and lows of his life. A spokeswoman said he did not feel well and Carter later said he had a bad cold. However, on August 12 he announced the cancer had spread.
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Raised on a peanut farm, he was a relative unknown as Georgia governor when he launched his campaign that unseated President Ford in the 1976 election.
