Edwards Will Continue

Speculation to the contrary notwithstanding and despite the recurrence of his wife’s cancer, presidential hopeful John Edwards plans to continue his campaign:

WASHINGTON – His wife’s cancer has returned, but former North Carolina senator John Edwards says he’ll continue his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.

“On Monday Elizabeth went to the doctor because she felt a pain on her left side,” Edwards said. “X-rays showed she may have had a fracture on the left side, and something on a rib on the right side.”

Edwards said a bone study was done “that made the suspicion of the rib on the right side more intense.”

A biopsy showed “the cancer had returned – it was malignant,” Edwards said.

“The net results is that the cancer is back, largely confined in bone, which is a good thing,” Edwards said.

The bone is one of the most common places where breast cancer spreads, and once it does so it is not considered curable.

But how long women survive depends on how widespread the cancer is in the bone, and many can survive for years. The longer it takes for cancer to spread after the initial tumor, the better the prognosis.

“We are very optimistic about this,” Edwards said. “Having been through some struggles in the past, we know the key is to keep your head up and keep moving.” Edwards referred to the family’s struggle after their son Wade died in 1996.

Elizabeth Edwards, 57, echoed her husband’s sentiments. “We feel incredibly optimistic,” she said. “I do not expect my life to be significantly different.”

“The campaign goes on,” John Edwards said. “We leave her to go to New York and Boston and then to California, together.”

I can only wish Elizabeth Edwards well.