U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D) is diagnosed with cancer

[jimmy olsen]

Yikes, I hope he recovers. Still, at his age, even a treatable cancer is very dangerous. I had chemo when I was 19 and let me just say that I'm a little dubious that he'll be able to actually be able to carry out his duty as a senator as normal.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/us_sen_frank_lautenberg_is_dia.html

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg is diagnosed with cancer
By Josh Margolin/Statehouse Bureau
February 19, 2010, 11:44AM

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, New Jersey's 86-year-old senior senator, was diagnosed with treatable stomach cancer in the last 24 hours and will begin chemotherapy today.

The Democrat still plans to finish out his current term – his fifth in the Senate – and seek re-election in 2014.

"This doesn't change any of that," Lautenberg's chief aide, Dan Katz, said of the senator's political plans. "After he receives his treatment, back to normal."

Moments ago, Lautenberg's office issued a statement from the senator's oncologist, James F. Holland, saying:

"We expect a full and complete recovery for Senator Lautenberg. The senator will be treated with chemotherapy administered approximately every three weeks. We anticipate that he will receive between six and eight treatments, and in between treatments, the senator is expected to be back at work in the Senate."

Lautenberg took ill Monday while at home in Cliffside Park. He fell down and phoned his doctor and an ambulance. The senator directed the ambulance to transport him to Manhattan for treatment at Mount Sinai Medical Center, where he has been hospitalized ever since. Lautenberg never lost consciousness, his aides said.

Doctors quickly determined that Lautenberg had fallen due to blood loss from a bleeding ulcer. The bleeding was stopped during an endoscopy. Additional pathology tests revealed the ulcer was caused by a b-cell lymphoma of the stomach.

In recent days, Lautenberg had been in touch with his staff and was on the phone a short time ago discussing the ongoing sex scandal surrounding golf star Tiger Woods , his aides said .

This is the first time Lautenberg has been diagnosed with cancer. His last health scare occurred seven years ago when he suffered a head injury in a skiing accident.

STATEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF SENATOR LAUTENBERG

"After several days of hospitalization and testing, Senator Lautenberg's doctors have diagnosed that he has a B-Cell Lymphoma of the stomach. This is a curable tumor, and will require treatment over the next few months.

"The Senator is under the care of Dr. James F. Holland and Dr. Martin Goldman of Mount Sinai Medical Center."

[DGuller]

Damn, one more Democratic seat in danger of falling to Republicans, in the most disgusting of circumstances.  Oh, and I guess it sucks for Lautenberg as well.

[Razgovory]

I suppose this gets cheers in the CPAC conference.

[KRonn]

Yikes, I hope he recovers. Still, at his age, even a treatable cancer is very dangerous. I had chemo when I was 19 and let me just say that I'm a little dubious that he'll be able to actually be able to carry out his duty as a senator as normal.

The chemo, radiation and other treatments are rugged, tough on the body. And can lead to all sorts of after effects, some lasting. Then getting regular check ups to make sure there isn't a recurrence, and if so, then another cycle of treatments. Can be really tough to go through treatments a number of times, even though it can save a life. I've had relatives go through that, and debate on getting the treatments after a while.

[Darth Wagtaros]

The RNC is celebrating at least.  The Democrats managed some monumental failures.  This poor bastard will just be tarred with that.

[Faeelin]

When was the last time New Jersey had a Republican Senator?

[ulmont]

When was the last time New Jersey had a Republican Senator?

1982 (Nicholas Brady, preceded Lautenberg).  1979 for the other seat (Clifford Case, preceded Bill Bradley).

[DGuller]

Here is another classic case of the barbarity of the way we appoint Senators for vacated spots.  If Lautenberg dies, then Republicans get a Senate seat because someone died.  If Lautenberg hangs on, barely, then he's almost forced to linger on when he really should be allowed to retire with dignity. 

What should be the standard is to have the party of the departing Senator choose a successor, on the condition that he's ineligible to run in special election that follows.

[KRonn]

Here is another classic case of the barbarity of the way we appoint Senators for vacated spots.  If Lautenberg dies, then Republicans get a Senate seat because someone died.  If Lautenberg hangs on, barely, then he's almost forced to linger on when he really should be allowed to retire with dignity. 

What should be the standard is to have the party of the departing Senator choose a successor, on the condition that he's ineligible to run in special election that follows.

Looks like New Jersey needs to be like Massachusetts - change the laws at a whim to fit the political outcome desired!   

[DGuller]

Looks like New Jersey needs to be like Massachusetts - change the laws at a whim to fit the political outcome desired!   

Yes, this is the first time I expressed this exact view.  I'm glad you're here to inject independent moderate thinking to this issue.

[Jaron]

I was expecting Tims opening post to be more like:

[Burns] Excellent.. [/Burns]

[Fate]

The mistake was to run someone so old in that seat in 2004.

Meh. Who cares if he dies? It's not like the Democrats would have gotten anything done with his vote.

[Eddie Teach]

The mistake was to run someone so old in that seat in 2004.

Yeah, cancer or no cancer, 86 year olds shouldn't be in the Senate.

[Razgovory]

The mistake was to run someone so old in that seat in 2004.

Yeah, cancer or no cancer, 86 year olds shouldn't be in the Senate.

Well the name implies it's for old people.