Cancer Respects No-one

Two prominent people in politics have been stricken again with cancer. Both Tony Snow, White House Spokesman and Elizabeth Edwards, wife of John Edwards, presidential hopeful, have announced that they are again fighting cancer that has returned after being treated previously.

Elizabeth Edwards, 57, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004. At the time it was thought that she was completely cured, but it has returned and has now spread to her bones . It is considered "treatable" but not "curable". John Edwards in consultation with his wife has decided to continue to seek the presidential nomination.

Breast cancer will be diagnosed 178,480 times in 2007, according to the American Cancer Society and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women today. 40,910 deaths are expected this year from breast cancer.

Tony Snow, 51, was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2005. He had his entire colon removed in hopes of aggressively attacking the cancer. He recently discovered that his cancer has also returned and spread to his liver. He has taken a leave of absence from work but hopes to return as soon as possible.

Colo-rectal cancer cases this year are expected to reach 153,760 and more than 52,000 people will die of the disease. It is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the US according to the American Cancer Society.

I think this forces upon us the reality that cancer is a very serious problem, not only in the US, but worldwide. Anybody, anytime, anywhere can be diagnosed with this terrible disease. The dignity with which Tony Snow and Elizabeth Edwards have faced their challenges should be an inspiration to all of us.

Of course they are both public figures and are expected to live their lives in the public glare, but they are also human beings and just like all of us have emotions and fears. They are facing the same situation that hundreds of thousands of people will face this year, a look at their own mortality.

Cancer respects no-one regardless of class, race, sex or any other method we use to differentiate ourselves from one another, in the end we are all human beings and we are all mortal. Good luck to both of you Tony and Elizabeth. I hope you beat the odds.