No. No, it's really not. This is very serious and Mr. Snow needs our prayers.

I won't hold my breath waiting for an outpouring of sympathy a la Elizabeth Edwards. Why?

Because Tony Snow is a white, conservative male. No matter that he's a far nicer, more considerate person than Elizabeth Edwards. The media (and the public) pays more attention when it's a liberal woman who's suffering from this disease.

DU'ers wishing Snow a painful death in 4...3...2...1.....

This overall trend for his health is not very encouraging. I like Mr. Snow, and offer him my prayers and very best wishes both.

Chemotherapy is a racket. Kill self to kill cancer. Does it ever Cure?

And "nice" Fredblog, RU.

FREE HAT! FREE HAT-I mean, FREE LIBBY! FREE LIBBY!

Chemotherapy is a racket. Kill self to kill cancer. Does it ever Cure?

Yes. My friend, non-Hodgkins lymphoma. A death sentence thirty years ago. She got it ten years ago. Beat it, cancer-free, has three kids now.

"No matter that he's (Snow) a far nicer, more considerate person than Elizabeth Edwards"and "The media (and the public) pays more attention when it's a liberal woman who's suffering from this disease."
...Langtry

Of course, the above statement is obvious to everyone and reflects the idea that Tony Snow is by far more deserving to win his fight against cancer because he's so much nicer than some ole liberal bag.

My my Langtry, the milk of human kindness oozes from your every pore...seemingly you have only one.

JohnAnnArbor,

Glad to hear it!

I wish him a full recovery, just exactly as I posted here that I wished it for Elizabeth Edwards. This is not, IMHO, the place for any sort of political dimension.

Chemo has advanced greatly in recent years, as researchers have developed increasingly targeted drugs. Some, for example, work not so much by directly killing high-metabolism cells as by reducing blood flow to them, thus sparing many of the more prevalent historical damages. There are still, however, generally systemic side effects.

dalleceneri,

Langtry's comment was a jibe at the media, not at Ms. Edwards.

If you stop automatically assuming that right-wing = hateful, your reading comprehension will improve dramatically.

In 60 years of exposure to the political world I've rarely seen a man in the public eye that I was more impressed with than Tony Snow. In this age of political baiting, baseless, hateful accusations, and just plain meanness in the political process, Tony Snow has shown himself to be a man of immense integrity, quiet wit, genuine compassion and erudite, eloquent delivery of his thoughts upon the widest array of matters affecting us all and which all too often crush the spirit of lesser men.

I have watched Tony for many years in his various positions which have always been in the public eye, and when it was announced that he would be taking on the job of press secretary to President Bush, I knew that he would set a new standard for intelligence and civility in that trying position. He has not disappointed.

My heart genuinely aches for Tony and his family. My prayers already stream heavenward and as they do I must admit that I am somewhat astonished at the depth to which Mr. Snow has affected me and influenced my viewpoint.

I pray to God that Tony will be with us for a long time to come. I know it is cliché to say but they don't make 'em like Tony Snow much anymore. And this world is the lesser for it.

This is sad news. My kid sister fought colon cancer, (she is 44) with radiation and chemo. She seemed to beat it. The radiation treatment had caused consideral damage to her bladder and intestines. I just got a call from her three days ago, the cancer has returned. It is a vile disease. My heart goes out to Tony and family. I have always appreciated his civility and knowlege. ww

dalleceneri:

Of course, the above statement is obvious to everyone and reflects the idea that Tony Snow is by far more deserving to win his fight against cancer because he's so much nicer than some ole liberal bag.

What I was trying to say was that, is that the media pays far more sympathetic attention to someone with cancer when that person is a democrat presidential candidate's wife than when it happens to a white, conservative male who works for George Bush. I think that is "obvious".

I'll fully admit to thinking that Tony Snow is a far nicer person than Elizabeth Edwards who, along with her husband, is capitalizing politically on the news that her cancer has returned. Sorry, but John Edward's campaign was inert until the announcement of his wife's condition.

Now the two are met with standing ovations at campaign appearances. Why? Because the couple have put John's politcal ambitions ahead of any other considerations, including the well-being of their young children. Sorry, but I don't find either of the Edwardses very sympathetic, for reasons that I've posted here before. John and Elizabeth's putting their White House ambitions ahead of making sure their children grow up with their Mother alive and well is hardly laudable, and I won't apologize for saying so.

Langtry... all the above is very sweet, but from what I am hearing so far on radio & tv, the MSM has not abandoned Snow in order to give privileged coverage to liberals.

Your attitude just reflects the standard wingnut reaction to the media in general since the media refuses to report conservative fairy tales as you wingnuts would have it. In your mind, barely 2 hours since the Snow announcement, the media is already abandoning a white male conservative as one would expect.

What you claim evidence-wise is as bereft as evidence for the flat earth.

While I disagree with Tony Snow politically, I hope he beats this thing soon.

langtry instead of complaining about who is getting more sympathy Edwards or Snow, why not just set the example of a decent human being and wish them both well?

It is sad that anyone ever, has to go through this.

Meanwhile, the oh-so-tolerant liberals over at Wonkette are showing the class, generosity of spirit and sympathy that are typical of the American Democrat. . .

What a filthy bunch of subhuman scum. I hope every one of them dies a horrible, screaming death with no-one around to comfort them in their last moments.

Just remember their posts when some left wing BDS asshat starts lecturing us about "civility" and "bipartisanship." FOAD, lefties.

Sad, sad news. There is no one like Tony. What a great guy. I hope he makes it.

Meanwhile I read where they've had to shut off the comments section over at the Huffington Post. It's pretty bad when you know how vile your own readers are that you have to shut them down before they publicly show the rest of us how vile they are. Wow. Just wow.

Heard this on the way into work this and my heart just sank. I remember him saying on his show that he wouldn't take the press secretary job if he wasn't in 100% health, so to have this recurrance is really disheartening.

Many prayers go out to Tony Snow and his family.

Kim: "From what I understand, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, but a cancer from somewhere else in the body that has shown up in the liver is much easier to treat than liver cancer itself."

Sadly, this is incorrect. The comment I think you are referring to, is the clarification that a cancer is identified by where it first is discovered. So, a cancer which begins in the colon and moves to attack the liver is not now liver cancer, but rather colon cancer which has moved into the liver. The distinction is, there is no generic "cancer", but many different kinds, and what is needed to fight each depends on a number of factors, such as the type of cancer, how advanced it was at discovery, the patient's general health and ummune system, and success in prior regimens. Mr. Snow is showing the brave face, but in fact we do not know his specific prognosis, and at this time even his oncologists may not be sure themselves. The only thing I know we can and should do, is like the President to pray for Tony Snow.

Pray for Tony's family too, please. I mentioned last week that while he may appear unconcerned, I believe that Senator Edwards is in shock and very worried for his wife Elizabeth - it is very, very difficult to see a loved one go through cancer the first time, and if it comes back, it is a pain words fail to desacribe. The Snow family will also need our prayers, for that same reason.

And sadly, it needs to be repeated again and again and again:

NOBODY DESERVES CANCER.

Anyone who can call themselves human whould know that and act accordingly.

John Edwards did look shell shocked the other day on 60 Minutes. I thought the interview went well, UNTIL Katie asked something about how some people ask why would they put this presidential ambitions first over family, since Elizabeth might not respond to treatment, etc. Elizabeth started using this bird analogy, about how little birds need to learn to leave the nest, and then John said something about how they need to learn to fly, and I said to myself, what??? They are 6 and 8 years old!!!! Incredulous, Katie said the exact same thing I was thinking. It's what anyone would be thinking. What they were saying was just weird.

Anyway, the interview was great up until that point. That part was just strange. It really ruined the whole interview, IMO.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Tony and his family - just as they have for Elizabeth Edwards and hers.

Obviously, a cancer which has recurred and spread to other sites is a matter of grave concern. People can and do survive these cancers, though, every day.

May the numbers of survivors continue to grow.

"What a filthy bunch of subhuman scum. I hope every one of them dies a horrible, screaming death with no-one around to comfort them in their last moments.

Just remember their posts when some left wing BDS asshat starts lecturing us about "civility" and "bipartisanship." FOAD, lefties."

WOW. Just Wow.

Interesting that a difference in political opinions leads to the hope of death for the opponent, and miserably at that.

While not a fan of Tony Snow, I certainly wouldn't want to see him suffer, or anyone else for that matter. Well, maybe Bin Laden, but that's besides the point.

Why must every thread be a debate of left vs right? Simply give the man your best and include him in your prayers if you so choose. Why is there even an argument here? Must everything be spun to uphold your political stance while demonizing the other?

"Why is there even an argument here?"

Oh, I don't know. . .did you follow the link, suhnami? Did you see the diaper-soiling glee from those wonderful, tolerant liberals at Wonkette at the thought (actually, the hope) that Tony Snow might die? That's not the fringe - that's the majority of the left. That's why I despise them.

And it's interesting that DU and HuffPo are deleting and moderating their comments on this story as fast as their little fingers can type - they want to pretend they have only good wishes for Snow, but Wonkette shows their real emotion.

Just who are you quoting there, suhnami? For a minute, I thought you were claiming the folks here had posted that.

I wish Mr. Snow the best.

My father had colon cancer that he beat with chemotherapy. His came back as well, but it hadn't spread like Tony's.

Sad to hear-I hope he gets well. I like him, even if I disagree with him.

If Mr Snow has a single or several small lesions close together they can be resected or destroyed by freezing or alcohol injections. Chemotherapy, which is not considered curative, is often reserved for when the person becomes symptomatic. Even then, drug treatment may improve symptoms for a while, but does not significantly prolong survival, unless you think less than a year is significant. Symptoms may be pain, fever, weight loss or nausea. I treated one woman with liver mets from colon cancer who had only the symptom of fever with Motrin (ibuprofen) for two years before other measures were necessary.

However, once colon cancer shows up anywhere outside the colon (the liver is the most common site, but lung, bone, brain are other common sites), cure is not considered an option. Rare reportable instances of resection of solitary metastases have been followed by long remissions. Any time a single colon cancer metastasis is present in the lung or liver, a resection is worth considering.

Chemo can be curative for lymphomas, leukemias, testicular cancer and small cell lung cancer. A small proportion of patients with ovarian, breast cancer and colon cancer appear to be cured with chemotherapy given after surgery. Otherwise, for the most part, chemotherapy is palliative - it quiets things down for a while, but eventually the cancer comes back.

Median survival after liver metastasis from colon cancer is less than three years in the best of circumstances.

Did you see the diaper-soiling glee from those wonderful, tolerant liberals at Wonkette at the thought (actually, the hope) that Tony Snow might die?

Did you see the comments right here on Wizbang from some on the right wishing Mrs. Edwards ill? I personally wish well of all of them, but it's a bit infuriating watching you on the right making this a political argument about greater morals. Just wish them well, condemn all haters, and move on.

"Did you see the diaper-soiling glee from those wonderful, tolerant liberals at Wonkette at the thought (actually, the hope) that Tony Snow might die?"

I saw similar posts here for Mrs Edwards, and to the credit of most on this site, those post were condemed.

This from crooksandliars:

"We give a lot of grief to Tony Snow (and not without cause), but as someone who had a cancer scare of my own, this is the last news any cancer patient wants to hear. And as we sent thoughts and prayers to Elizabeth Edwards, so too, should we send them to Tony Snow and his family, for what they are about to face. This isn't about partisanship, this is about humanity."

Wait just a minute, Brian. I saw some posts where people wondered about Mr. Edwards' priorities, putting politics ahead of everything else tight now, but I do not recall a single post "Wishing Mrs. Edwards ill".

That lie is too easily called out, sir, and you diminish yourself by presenting it.

The comments for Mrs. Edwards are here:

http://wizbangblog.com/2007/03/22/edwards-announces-that-his-wifes-cancer-has-returned-but-campaign-will-continue.php#comments

You will note that not one of them expresses any happiness at her suffering.

You should go away now, before you say something even more boorish.

DU has been amazingly supportive and realize cancer is above politics or at least bi-partisan.

There were many calls for prayer and extremely few snarky comments. I salute them.

I'm from Free Republic, so you know it's true.

I give them kudos when due... I'm proud of them.

Too bad both sides can't get together to do something for Cancer research; It's affected so many that almost everyone knows someone who has battled it in one way or another with different results... whether related, friend or acquaintance.

The acid-laced vomit spewing from 'Democratic Underground' has already been noted, Ali, so I figure the group you mean must therefore be 'Ducks Unlimited'.

DJ Drummond,

I think you are in error. To the credit of this site most people were well wishers, but there were a few.

"Hard to have sympathy for a family that didnt have the balls to take a stand when Breck boys employees chose to, aahhhm, thats right, 'malign the faith' of potential voters.

Karma is a bitch!!"

Posted by: Gianni at March 22, 2007 12:53 AM

and there were a few others that basically called Edwards a sleezeball for using his wife as a campaign tool. certainly not nice to a guy whose longtime wife has cancer.

Forgot this gem:

"Since people like Chris Reeve would have walked if Hanoi John would have been elected, Im wondering just who could have been elected so that a greaseball lawyers wife wouldnt have gotten cancer."

Posted by: Gianni at March 22, 2007 12:42 AM

Now can we stop genralizing and just agree that anyone, left or right, that acts like this is an asshole?

crazylibs, I will need a better citation. I looked through the thread and did not find any such statement.

The post went up at 12:22 PM, and there is no post by "Gianni" at 12:53 PM (you noted AM, which is impossible), nor any post in a sentiment such as you claim.

I simply do not see anything in the thread to match the sheer hatred we see from DU. Kos, and Huffington. I agree with your sentiment that cancer is not something which should be painted in political colors, but the fact remains that your side has some truly hateful people. And only the good people in the Left can make a difference there.