by Frank James
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the only woman on the Supreme Court, was hospitalized for pancreatic cancer surgery, the court said in a statement today. 
In its statement, the court said Ginsburg, 75, "had surgery for an apparently early-stage pancreatic cancer today, at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. According to Dr. Murray Brennan, the attending surgeon, Justice Ginsburg will likely remain in the hospital approximately 7-10 days."
The statement continued: "Justice Ginsburg had no symptoms prior to the incidental discovery of the lesion during a routine annual check-up in late January at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. A Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT) Scan revealed a small tumor, approximately 1 cm across, in the center of the pancreas."
In 1999, Ginsburg was treated for colorectal cancer. It was unclear if the pancreatic cancer was related to that earlier cancer.
One of four reliably liberal votes on the court, Ginsburg was appointed to the court in 1993 by former President Bill Clinton.
(AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)
Comments
Can they do surgery on someone who's 108 years old?
Posted by: Greg | February 5, 2009 3:28 PM
With an early stage tumor that is as small as they describe, the prognosis is very good for Justice Ginsburg - compared to the typical sub-one-year life expectancy of any other pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Most people don't catch it until stage 3 or 4, and that is usually a death sentence.
With this, Justice Ginsburg may be able to expect death from old age before death from pancreatic cancer. At a minimum, she will be able to likely live another 3 or 4 years.
I think this just goes to show that EVERYONE should have access to the same level of government health care that we extend to our senior government officials. Very few people get a CAT scan annually, and such a procedure given to every man and woman in the USA over age 50 would go a long way to detecting and treating diseases early, extending life expectancy, and reducing medical bills that come from much more costly treatment for diseases in advanced stages.
Posted by: Aaron | February 5, 2009 4:17 PM
Best of luck justice.
Posted by: bill r. | February 5, 2009 4:22 PM
That sucks, I wish her a full and speedy recovery.
Posted by: Jeff | February 5, 2009 4:26 PM
Nice comment, Greg. How funny would you find it if you had cancer and ignorant morons made jokes of it? You should pray it never happens to you or someone you love.
I wish Justice Ginsberg a successful surgery and speedy recovery.
Posted by: The Capitalist | February 5, 2009 4:29 PM
Best wishes for a speedy recovery Justice Ginsburg!
Posted by: Mrs MMMM | February 5, 2009 4:44 PM
Justice Ginsburg is a hero on the Supreme Court bench. Best wishes to her.
Posted by: Vivian | February 5, 2009 5:41 PM
Thanks for the information Aaron - that is hopefully good news for the person and our country. Her wisdom is certainly needed.
Posted by: suzka | February 5, 2009 7:03 PM
Everyone is covering Justice Ginsburg as the only woman on the Supreme Court. DId the entire Associated Press and the blogosphere forget about Justice Sandra Day O'Connor?
Posted by: Kate | February 5, 2009 7:07 PM
Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to serve on the court, has retired. Justice Ginsburg is the only woman on the court.
Posted by: Mark Silva | February 5, 2009 7:12 PM
Kate, did you forget that Justice O'Connor retired from the Supreme Court in 2006?
Posted by: JRR | February 5, 2009 7:16 PM
"Can they do surgery on someone who's 108 years old?"
Posted by: Greg | February 5, 2009 3:28 PM
.
Congratulations, Greg. You've established a new standard for stupidity.
Posted by: MJ | February 5, 2009 8:36 PM
I hope she dies in cancer surgery.
One the same cold stainless steel table that the MILLIONS of babies she helped kill did.
No sympathy for this old liberal hag.
Rot Ginsberg. Rot until the stench of your flesh permeats the hell you're going to just as soon as pancreatic cancer snuffs you out.
Posted by: Lynda | February 5, 2009 8:50 PM
Ah...... Lynda the troll.... probably stupid Paulo in drag...... Ginsburg wasn't even on the court when Roe v. Wade was decided. You're pathetic, Lynda.
Good post, MJ.
Posted by: Flo | February 5, 2009 10:04 PM
The first sentence of Lynda's comment at 8:50 PM was over-the-top.
Posted by: Vivian | February 5, 2009 11:25 PM