Advances in treatment improve Carter’s outlook

Former President Jimmy Carter revealed yesterday that he will undergo treatment for cancer that has spread to various parts of his body — and doctors say that despite his advanced age, the 90-year-old may fare well thanks to recent advances in personalized medicine.

“With cancer cells, there are many different mechanisms that make them grow, and a lot of the science has been dissecting genes and proteins that cause it,” said Dr. Andrew M. Evens, director of Tufts Cancer Center. “There’s work around identifying treatment for the patient’s individual cancer and doing it at a genetic level.”

Carter said he is suffering from a cancer that has spread throughout his body, but he did not say where it originated.

“Recent liver surgery revealed that I have cancer that now is in other parts of my body,” Carter said in a statement released by the Carter Center. “I will be rearranging my schedule as necessary so I can undergo treatment by physicians at Emory Healthcare.”

Evens said there are advanced types of testing that can examine the genetic makeup of cancer cells to identify where it started, and guide treatment.

And even if the point of origin is not pinpointed, generally doctors are able to make an “educated guess.”

Though he said he cannot comment specifically on Carter’s case, Evens said sometimes cancer can be treated with a combination of chemotherapy and more targeted, precise means, some that are noninvasive and can be taken in the form of pills.

“This is a really exciting time in cancer treatment, because of all the novel, targeted drugs we have,” he said.

Carter served as the nation’s 39th president. He founded the Carter Center in Atlanta in 1982 to promote health care and democracy. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

Walter Mondale, who served as vice president under Carter, said he had only just heard the news and had not yet spoken to Carter or his loved ones.

“I just found out about it myself and of course I am concerned, and praying for a swift recovery,” he told the Herald. “This was found early, which improves chances for treatment. He has the best care possible.”

President Obama released a statement saying, “Michelle and I send our best wishes to President Carter for a fast and full recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with Rosalynn and the entire Carter family as they face this challenge with the same grace and determination that they have shown so many times before.”

He added, “Jimmy, you’re as resilient as they come, and along with the rest of America, we are rooting for you.”