Posted by Mark Silva at 12:04 pm CDT
Tony Snow, the White House press secretary and a survivor of colon cancer, announced today that he will undergo surgery Monday to remove a growth in his lower abdomen “out of an aggressive sense of caution.’’
Blood tests and a CAT scan of the growth have come back negative for cancer, he said, but he plans to be out of work for a few weeks due to the surgery.
“Please do not lead to conclusions about this, because we don’t know what it is… We know it’s coming out,’’ Snow said at the end of a week-ending press briefing. “Don’t lead to any cancer conclusions about what’s going on with me, because we don’t know.’’
Snow, a former Fox News radio and television talk show host, learned that he had cancer two years ago, when he was a commentator at Fox. Two months after surgery, he returned to the air, and went on to become White House press secretary in April 2006.
Recently, the Great Comebacks program awarded Snow with an Honorary Great Comebacks Award. As a long-time colitis patient, the organization said, Snow had known that he was at high-risk for the disease and took immediate action. Snow has applauded "the technologies that were available to me that have me standing behind the podium today.’’
He has said that he counts each day as "a blessing."
"I'll be out for a few weeks because it's still -- you know, they're going to cut me, and it'll take me a little while to heal up,'' Snow said today. "So I'll come back here a little lighter.''
And today’s word added some new insight into Snow’s gracious words yesterday for Elizabeth Edwards, wife of the Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards, as she announced that she is being treated for a recurrence of breast cancer.
“The reason I got choked up about Elizabeth Edwards yesterday is, she is doing a great thing,’’ Snow said. “The biggest problem you have with cancer is flat-out fear
“Once you decide that you’re going to embrace life,’’ he said, it gets easier. “What she’s going to do is provide a lot of courage and example that is going to help a lot of people.’’
The same could be said today for Snow’s public show of courage.
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Comments
Godspeed Mr.Snow.
Posted by: John E. | March 23, 2007 12:15 PM
I hope it's not cancer, my wife's uncle was stricken with colon cancer at age 50 and suffered a horrible, horrible death. Life often isn't fair.
Posted by: dt | March 23, 2007 12:31 PM
It's time to stop looking at Tony Snow as a politician and start looking at him as a husband and father battling cancer. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.
Posted by: Jeff | March 23, 2007 12:34 PM
So I guess we can all agree that cancer is definitely non-partisan.
Bets wishes to both Mr. Snow and Mrs. Edwards.
Posted by: Steve | March 23, 2007 12:53 PM
Anyone who ridiculed the Edward's family in previous posts want to make a comment now?
Posted by: RomanB | March 23, 2007 12:56 PM
I really do not like the policies Tony Snow has to spin everyday, I do not like his politics...but truely wish him well. I hope he overcomes and lives a long healthy life.
Posted by: Jim | March 23, 2007 1:01 PM
I wish him a speedy recovery.
Posted by: Catherine | March 23, 2007 1:31 PM
I was at the Great Comebacks Dinner in Washington a few weeks ago when Mr. Snow received his award, and he is a class act. I received the same award in 1986, and have had similar experiences over many years. The bottom line is, we are both alive and well (as are many others) due to excellent medical care, loving families and friends, and the grace of God.
Tony, our prayers are with you and I know your mettle. We look forward to hearing your band again, and swapping stories.
God bless you.
Posted by: Scott | March 23, 2007 2:12 PM
Good luck to both. They each have access to good health care and the ability to pay. Good luck to the rest of us, too, especially the 40 million or so in this country without health insurance or independent means.
Posted by: BJacobs | March 23, 2007 2:23 PM
I'm a Dem, & I wish the Edwards & the Snows the best as they face the future. To all of you who rant & rave, on the Left & Right, get real, grow up, you need to LEARN TO COOPERATE, EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T WANT TO. Frankly, most of us are truly looking for leadership---not the vomit you both spit out!!!!
Posted by: RM | March 23, 2007 3:04 PM
Cancer is nonpartisan, classless and not racist. It is truly an equal opportunity killer. My biological mother died at 48 from lung cancer. As I approach that age the awarenes of her loss is becoming worse instead of distant. It also makes me think of all the things undone in my life. I hope for the best for Snow and edwards and for everyone else too. Life is short and the older you get the more apparent that becomes...
Posted by: chris | March 23, 2007 3:09 PM
The important part of this story is after surgery or treatments it's a must that you take time off and rest.I know Mrs. Snow will do her best to care for her husband after this ordeal,I just hope John Edwards will re-think his position and not drag his wife all over the country on the campaign trail.
Best of luck to the Snow family and to Mrs. Edwards and her children.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | March 23, 2007 5:48 PM
Mr. Snow, I realize that your current position of Press Secetary is extremely stressful for so many reasons....Please resign so that you may heal....We, libels and conservatives a like, do not want you to suffer or die!!!!
Any guy that would show up on Bill Maher's show is a pretty classy guy....
Get well soon, Tony....We want you back up and running!!!!
God Bless
Miles
Posted by: miles | March 23, 2007 6:32 PM
Tony, I was diagnosed with colon cancer 11/04 and after surgery and months of chemotherapy, I am cancer free. I feel wonderful and strong today and so grateful to God and the doctors for all good works. I pray that this new finding will be noncancerous. You are doing a great job and wish you back at work ASAP.
Posted by: Jane H Berry | March 23, 2007 6:44 PM
Mr. Snow, many prayers for you and your loved ones during this anxious time.
My mom just went thru this---twice. After 2nd go round of chemotherapy, "something" showed up. Many ct scans, blood tests, pet scans...You know the drill. Hoping it's the same for you as her--"nothing"... Common to have cysts after abdominal surgery (esp for colon cancer). Good luck, god bless and EVERYONE KNOCK OFF THE CANCER-POLITICAL CRAP!
Posted by: Aunty Em | March 23, 2007 8:07 PM
Hee hee, libels. Slips really are Freudian, aren't they?
Posted by: Jeff | March 23, 2007 8:21 PM
What will addlebrained-drugged Fat-Rush say
to his crazed listeners about Mr. Snow's
"affliction", eh?
Posted by: ABE | March 23, 2007 11:05 PM
I'm glad to see that the Liberals and Democrats aren't attacking Snow over his cancer in anything like the way the Neocons, Conservatives and Republicans have attacked John Edwards over his wife's cancer. Exhibit A: Rush whining that Edwards was using his wife's cancer to promote his campaign run.
Posted by: BC | March 24, 2007 11:41 AM
You mean attacks like this, BC?
f Edwards were a Republican he could now serve his wife with divorce papers and run off with his mistress,and once he's caught and exposed for being a lying hypocrite he can confess to James Dobson and have his sins "washed" away by the Republican water carriers in the Evangelical Army...............atta boy Newt!
I like Edwards and I think he's going to be in the mix before this is all over.
Posted by: John E. | Mar 22, 2007 12:23:47 PM
Guess what? It's a Republican now. And this little fantasy is the furthest thing from appropriate and the truth.
Don't kid yourself, BC, if they hadn't already been scolded by Mark Silva, John E. Raving Loon and the loony left would've been all over this. Notice, also, that the posters have managed to get jabs in about healthcare, the how they don't agree with the administration, and Rush Limabaugh. Things that have nothing to do with Tony Snow and his hopefully continued good heatlh. So don't pull a muscle patting yourself on the back over there, okay, bucco?
p.s. You forgot to get in your little "I don't agree with his politics," disclaimer, too, as one of your philosophical brethren did.
Posted by: Jeff | March 24, 2007 9:46 PM
I hope Mr Snow recovers quickly and fully.
Posted by: Cheryl | March 25, 2007 3:26 PM
It is a shame when folks who have sicknesses, diseases and who's lives are threatened become the pawns of people's sick minds. The ONLY concern should be people's well-being.
To both Tony Snow and Elizabeth Edwards, my heart and prayers are with you and that that you both have many, many happy and HEALTHY years ahead. God Bless.
Both Mr. Snow and Mrs. Edwards have family, friends and admirers who care deeply about them. Both families have children, young and not-so-young. Nothing else matters!
Posted by: John D | March 25, 2007 3:38 PM
JohnD, I find myself in total agreement with you again.
Posted by: Catherine | March 26, 2007 11:38 AM
I'm a colon cancer survivor. Been through the whole bit: two surgeries, time in intensive care for infection, radiation, 6 courses of chemo. I often didn't think I would make it. And sometimes I really didn't care; I just wanted it to end.
Tony...you're gonna make it. I'm not particularly a devout man. But I firmly believe my survival had a lot to do with prayers from friends and even from congregations that I didn't even know. Be assured that there are many more prayers going out for you than there were for me.
And don't let them tell you to keep your chin up, fight the good fight, etc.... they just don't know the pain, the depression, the feeling of hopelessness. It's OK to feel bad. Just know...without a doubt.... that you're gonna make it.
Posted by: Dave Groom | March 27, 2007 12:16 PM
Wishing the Snow family all the best through the difficult battle ahead. Tony has served the President and the people well. If all humans could be as kind, pleasant, and optimistic as Tony, the world would sure be a better place.
Kindest Regards,
Carole Richard
Posted by: Carole Richard | March 27, 2007 4:31 PM
Tony:
Be assured of our prayers for you and your precious family. May your recovery be a complete and speedy one. You are the best Press Secretary that President Bush has ever had. You have brought class to that position. God bless you and your family. Jim & Connie Sweeney
Posted by: Jim & Connie Sweeney | March 27, 2007 5:32 PM
Tony:
Be assured of our prayers for you and your precious family. May your recovery be a complete and speedy one. You are the best Press Secretary that President Bush has ever had. You have brought class to that position. God bless you and your family. Jim & Connie Sweeney
Posted by: Jim & Connie Sweeney | March 27, 2007 5:35 PM