Worldwide support pours in for Carter after cancer revelation
Former President Jimmy Carter faces his greatest enemy: cancer. Worldwide support is pouring in for the 90-year-old Nobel laureate.
Mr. Carter revealed Wednesday the disease is spreading through his body.
Among Mr. Carter's well-wishers was President Obama. He called the nation's 39th chief executive late Wednesday to wish him a full and speedy recovery, but at this point, the extent and exact nature of Mr. Carter's cancer is still unknown.
Ever since leaving the White House in 1981, the former-president-turned-international-humanitarian appeared to be a man full of energy and vitality.
So despite Mr. Carter's advanced age of 90, his announcement of a health crisis came as a shock to many.
In a statement posted to The Carter Center website, Mr. Carter writes: "Recent liver surgery revealed that I have cancer that now is in other parts of my body. I will be rearranging my schedule as necessary so I can undergo treatment by physicians at Emory Healthcare."
Three months ago, Mr. Carter cut short a visit to Guyana to observe elections there due to a bad cold. Early last week, he revealed he had surgery to remove a small mass from his liver.
Mr. Obama issued a statement saying, "Michelle and I send our best wishes... Jimmy, you're as resilient as they come, and along with the rest of America, we are rooting for you."
Mr. Carter's family has a history of pancreatic cancer. In his new memoir "A Full Life," Mr. Carter writes that his father, brother and two sisters died of the disease. He had just completed a book tour and recently recorded a "Note to Self" for "CBS This Morning" speaking to a 12-year-old Jimmy Carter.
"You'll face many challenges and opportunities throughout your life. But don't worry. So many people will want to help you along the way," Mr. Carter had said.
Mr. Carter did not say what kind of cancer he's been diagnosed with or how far it has spread. He said "a more complete public statement will be made when facts are known, possibly next week."