Edwards stays in 2008 race, wife's cancer recurs
Source: Reuters
(Adds medical background) By Gene Cherry CHAPEL HILL, N.C., March 22 (Reuters) - Democrat John Edwards said on Thursday he will continue his campaign for the White House even though his wife Elizabeth has suffered an incurable recurrence of the cancer that struck her in 2004. "The campaign goes on. The campaign goes on strongly," Edwards, a former senator from North Carolina and the 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee, said at a news conference in his hometown with Elizabeth at his side. "The bottom line is her cancer is back. We are very optimistic about this because, having been through some struggles together in the past, we know, the key is to keep your head up," he said. Some Democrats had indicated Edwards would at least suspend campaign activities while the couple dealt with the cancer, but Edwards said he would head out on a campaign trip on Friday. "Both of us are committed to the cause, we're committed to changing this country that we love so much and we have no intention of cowering in the corner," Edwards said. Edwards has been running third among Democrats in national polls behind Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois. He canceled a campaign appearance in Iowa and flew back to North Carolina when Mrs. Edwards' doctor requested another test after a routine appointment on Monday. New tests found a recurrence of the cancer in a bone, which Edwards said was treatable but incurable. "The biopsy showed the cancer had returned," Edwards said. "It was malignant. Her cancer will not be cured now. She will have this as long as she's alive." Elizabeth Edwards's breast cancer was announced in 2004, the day after Edwards and John Kerry lost the election to President George W. Bush. Elizabeth, who underwent months of radiation and chemotherapy, wrote about her experiences last year in a book called "Saving Graces." WELL WISHES "I don't expect my life to be significantly different," Elizabeth said. "You can see I don't look sickly, I don't feel sickly. I'm as ready as any person can be for that." Doctors say when breast cancer has spread to the bone, it can be controlled for years or even decades. Several drugs can control the tumors, including some that are pills. But the illness could at times limit campaign appearances by Edwards and raise doubts about his long-term political prospects. He said he would return from the campaign trail to help his wife when needed, adding "we will be in this every step of the way together." "If you're not able to focus in a thoughtful way to deal with this kind of pressure, you're not ready to be president," he said. Many of Edwards's presidential rivals expressed their support and admiration for the couple. "Elizabeth has been an inspiration and a role model to all of us with her courageous and very public fight against breast cancer," New Mexico's Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson said. Edwards and his wife suffered the death of their oldest child, son Wade, in a car accident in 1996. They have three other children.
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