Arlen Specter confirms he is battling cancer, says he 'intends to win'
Arlen Specter's office confirmed Tuesday morning that the longtime U.S. Senator is once again fighting cancer. " I am battling cancer, and it's another battle I intend to win," Specter said in a statement from his office.
Arlen Specter confirms he is battling cancer, says he 'intends to win'
Dan Gross
UPDATE: Arlen Specter's office confirmed Tuesday morning that the former U.S. Senator is once again fighting cancer. "I am battling cancer, and it's another battle I intend to win," Specter said in a statement issued by his office. "I am grateful for the well wishes I have received and I am looking forward to getting back to work, to the comedy stage, the squash court and the ballpark," says Specter, an avid Phillies fan.
We reported what follows below on Monday afternoon...
Arlen Specter has been hospitalized with a serious illness, confirm friends of the longtime U.S. Senator. One asked that people keep him in thoughts and prayers.
Specter, 82, announced in 2005 that he had Hodgkin’s disease for which he underwent chemotherapy. His cancer returned and he was treated again in 2008.
Friends declined to comment Monday afternoon on the nature of his illness.
Specter had been scheduled to appear as a surprise guest and perform a comedy set at last Wednesday’s Stu Bykofsky Candidates Comedy Night but his secretary cancelled his long-booked appearance several days earlier, Bykofsky confirms, adding that Specter’s assistant referred to the cancellation as “personal.”
“I’m sorry I can’t provide any information to that effect, you’ll have to ask somebody else,” replied a woman who answered the phone at Specter’s office Monday when asked if she could confirm that Specter was in the hospital.
Specter’s son, attorney Shanin Specter, promptly retured our email Monday, but declined to comment for this report.
Voted for him every time, even though he was a republican and I was a democrat.He took care of Pennsylvanians.— youwish- How does Ira Einhorn feel about all this?— fallsrogue
- Amazing how many posters don't even know how his name is spelled!!— Konstanty
- Some sort of Scottish bug going around?— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- I'm surprised he made it this long. He was an incredible egomaniac who was willing to change his point of view not based on updated information on the particular issue but on updated political exit polls. He was and is a creep.— Mr. Barffington
- God Speed Mr.Specter! My thoughts and prayers are with you.— Bob H
- The so-called gentleman was voted the worst Senator to work for in an anonymous survey of Senate employees by Roll Call magazine . A co-worker was lent to his office years back - God help his staff if a case of his favorite ice tea didn't appear in his room in Timbuktu or Baghdad or wherever he was on a junket . ( or if they could not find a handball court for him ).— publius sempronius tuditanus
- I don't wish illness on anyone. I hope he recovers. I had very little respect for him as a politician though. The quintessential example of playing both ends against the middle.— olneymike
- Prayers to Senator Spector.— DC
- I don't particularly care for Specter, though I voted for him in the primary over Sestak because I like Sestak even less. Still, I've got to say that Bush/Cheney could have done even more damage to this country if it hadn't been for Specter as chair of the Judiciary Committee.— CurrerBell
- Is Angelnose Cataldi about to lose his only listener?— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- We can only hope that he will give up the truth about the JFK Assassination and repudiate the single bullet farce.— defiore14
- He has long amazed me with the way he has bounced back from serious illnesses. This does not sound good. I think he was a good public servant and really tried to do what was best for the people and not a political party.— Marie Elena
- Benedict Arlen....— kelprod2-freemarket
- Stay strong Mr Specter.— denjamr
