US:White House spokesman Tony Snow, who survived colon cancer two years ago, reported yesterday that a growth surgically removed from his abdomen was cancerous and that the disease has spread to his liver.
Mr Snow (51) had surgery on Monday to remove a growth from his lower pelvic area. Tests confirmed it was cancerous.
Deputy White House press secretary Dana Perino said the cancer had spread to his liver and that Mr Snow was in consultation with his doctors about starting chemotherapy.
"He said he's going to go after this as aggressively as he can . . . It's hard news for us at the White House," said Ms Perino, breaking down in tears as she briefed reporters.
A sombre President Bush told reporters that Mr Snow called him from the hospital and told him the news. "His attitude is one that he is not going to let this whip him," Mr Bush said. "And he's upbeat. My attitude is we need to pray for him and for his family. "I'm looking forward to the day when he comes back to the White House." Dan Laheru, an oncologist with the Johns Hopkins University Kimmel Cancer Center in Maryland, said patients in Mr Snow's situation under the best circumstances have a five-year survival rate of about 40 per cent. Dr Laheru said the worst-case scenario was survival for a bit over two years.
"The fact that it's come back is clearly not a good thing," he said. "But, again, I think it's still at least potentially a treatable situation, and in the right situation with the right treatments, still potentially curable." Dr Laheru, who is not one of Mr Snow's doctors, was basing his assessment on information provided publicly by the White House. - ( Reuters )