E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSAccording to a family friend of former Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter:
Early in the week of July 15th, the former senator collapsed while playing squash. He required emergency surgery to remove a growth in his abdomen that was affecting his breathing.
At that time, doctors discovered the reemergence of an aggressive cancer. He was severely ill with an infection following surgery and at one point that same week was not expected to survive even hours.
Defying all medical expectations, since that time, he has responded remarkably well to vigorous chemotherapy and has been moved to a rehabilitation facility. He does go to the hospital for treatments, but is not currently in the hospital.
*** UPDATE *** Vicki Siegel Herson, a former Specter staffer says, “Anyone who knows Arlen Specter knows never to count him out as he will never ever give up."
Leave a Comment:
Hang in there Specter.
May you have a full and speedy recovery Mr. Spector!
He's got a tough fight.....but he's tough enough to beat it!
Best wishes to you Senator Specter. Hope you have a good recovery! Thanks for your many years of service to this nation.
He may need another "magic bullet" to get out of this one!
Thats a good one. Arlen Specter, a worthless puke that helped cover up the conspiracy that killed John Kennedy. In a just world he'd already be 6' under.
You guys would be saying "die sucker die" if he hadn't turncoated and got booted out at the voting booth in 2010. Bunch of losers.
I will never forget his grilling Anita Hill for days and hours. Ever.
Just like his public life... At the very last minute (the end of his public career, that is), he crossed to the bright side! That is EAXCTLY what is saving him now. No, I am not religious, but very superstitious - I beleive in karma! There IS a brighter future there, Hon. Senator Specter - for you - and for us, too! Hang in there, and we'll do all we can to do good by you, comes Novemeber! We will knock those Champaign glasses, not once - but at least twice - in November, and then again, to ring in the Bright New Year - and the New Future! - on Dec 31, 2012!
I wish Senator Spector well, but it's hard not to wonder if his medical bills are being paid by, yes I'm going to say it, GOVERNMENT FUNDED HEALTH COVERAGE. Unfortunately, the party he represented for so long would allow people without his means die of the same illness, with no hope.
gina - I'm with you - one of our infamous Senators who put this of piece of crap on the Supreme Court - along with I called "Lurch" Alan Simpson - along with the usual suspects - McConnell
How do we get rid of McConnell - draft dodger - who by now per his bought eye doctor should have a seeing eye dod by his side - poor dog
Never count Arlen Specter out!
He has been a real champion in his fight against Cancer.
May God bless him.
Unoperable and uncurrable...........with obozocare.....you have reached the end of the road.
It's 'inoperable' and 'incurable', bubba. You must have been graced with a high-end George Bush education...
Jeff,
Your comment is absurd!
Arlen Spector is a former U.S. senator.
Because he was a senator, he receives health care for life.
His health insurance has nothing to do with the Affordable Care Act.
That is real cute wondering if Spector's medical care is being paid for by really anyone ? Why not question Senators getting covered instead of a particular incident ? Yeah this was all Spector's fault, and his fault alone, because he got sick. ?
God bless him.
Snookie-Joe darling!
Tell us how many "shots" you had to consume to say something "nice"?
You're big on
playingpimping the sympathy card, but when it comes to others... eh... not so much....Tell us again how rape disrupts ovulation... that is one of your finest! lmfao!
Arlen was a good man even when he was a Republican
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL
Snookie-Joe darling!
Tell us again how rape disrupts ovulation... that is one of your finest! lmfao!
Feisty, Come on you know Snookie -Jo is all dried up. What does she care?
I'm just curious how her shriveled little black ♥ operates!
No one and I MEAN NO ONE is more of a hypocrite than our GF Snookie!
Feisty
I'm just curious how her shriveled little black ♥ operates!
No one and I MEAN NO ONE is more of a hypocrite than our GF Snookie!
Probably just as much as her shriveled non-reproductive organs and brain cells. ☺
Love him or hate him. Alan Specter is a human being just like the rest of us. We should all pray fopr a good outcome for him. It is the right thing to do. Wouldn't you want that for yourself? I would. Now is no time to hate.
In the end, Arlen Specter dies, meets St. Peter at the gates of heaven. Peter says you're forgiven, Arlen says "what was I forgiven forgiven for" St Peter says "your single bullet theory was totally wrong. As it turned out there were more than one shooter and the perpetrators wasn't just Oswald, it WAS a conspiracy by the Jack Ruby, the CIA, KGB, Labor Racketeers, LBJ, Madame Nu and the Mafia." You should have been more thorough in your investigation.
Pietro: And so Spector was the one who sinned ?
Specter is amazing! We're praying for you, Arlen!
"that was effecting his breathing."
You mean that was "affecting" his breathing. It makes me sad that the media cannot write.
Spell and grammar checks have made us lazy, don't be too harsh.
cat, professional writers should never be "lazy" about their professional writing. That probably makes me "too harsh," but I'm OK with that.
okay, let's blame it on the proof reader.
I have to agree. If you call yourself a professional writer/journalist, then you should know how to spell, how to use grammar correctly and how to use words correctly. Otherwise you have no business accepting the paycheck.
Professional journalism is a thing of the past.
underemployed
Did you mean eccepting the paycheck?
eccepting?
Seems like proofreaders were in one of the job slots replaced by computers. Spellcheck is cheaper, and doesn't require benefits, or office space, for that matter.
Correct spelling and use of grammer have gone the way of quality journalism.
Seems like a lot of things are going in that direction these days....:(
that rock
I agree. It is sad that they cannot spell or use proper words.
It usually only takes a few minutes to look over what they wrote/type and check it.
Wishing you all the best, you tough old bird! I have been a constituent and fan for many years and the party left you & me in 2010! Please get well soon!
I wish him the best. He's an example of what politicians should be. Moderates like him find the middle ground that we all can live with. As an independent i find myself more disgusted with how the moderate republicans are being pushed out and replaced with the tea party nut cases. We need more politicians like Mr. Spector.
He was never really a moderate. He didn't really have convictions apart from being convinced that he simply had to do everything possible, including switching parties, to retain power. To be one of only 100 people in the Senate. Don't give Specter undeserved credit.
He was compared to the Tea Partyist that ran against him.
He was a potential doddering old fool, as they say. The way the crowd ate his lunch at that botched town hall meeting on health care proved it.
Probably all the flipping and flopping got his innards riled.
He ran for office to promote himself. Who cares? Maybe his family. Good luck.
Save space for the important stories.
I am stunned by your comments. Your lack of human warmth and compassion speaks volumes about you. I pity you.
Only the good die young. When Arlen is finally put in the ground they will probably have to use a corkscrew as I believed him to be that crooked.
Common Sense, his lack of warmth does nothing of the kind. You can project your judgement on a faceless avatar and username posting a few words on a comment thread if you want, but we know nothing of this person.
There have been many Americans who don't miss Arlen Spector. I hope he recovers but that's just me.
This comment shows exactly the mentality of the Republican party and why they are so hated by most people. He was a good senator when he was a Republican and as a Democrat. He saw back then what vile ignorant people the Republicans were becoming so he got the hell out. I bet he didn't sign Norquist's pledge. He was to smart to get caught up in in the middle of allegiance to his oath of office or to Grover. Coservative Rebellion you need help. On second thought there is no helping you as there is no cure for being a Republican.
Kinda like being a Herpetic!
Too bad he can't spread it to another moron, Joe Biden. And that bitch, Beverly and her crack licking Feisty.
Specter was old news the day he left office. He's just a former politician now; facing a dread disease. I faced cancer as have many others. Most of us never issued press releases or stood before a microphone. Old news, Arlen. Just as old as when you sold your soul and changed parties in a failed attempt to protect your power in the Senate.
Fight Arlin, we are rooting for you.
they should have saved the growth and removed arlin.
You are the growth
dearest danny, I'll take being a growth. it's several notches better than being subslime like yourself.
theezle, they should remove your brain from your a$$ and put it in your head then maybe you could come up with an intelligent comment.
Bad news: he's got cancer.
Good news: According to a former Republican colleague, people don't die from cancer. So Specter has nothing to worry about.
Nice one Jane, a little too subtle I think, but nice one.
The Repubs have had a tough time of it lately when it comes to understanding medicine, women's reproduction, etc. Oh the list goes on...
what? women reproductive. so you will impose your beliefs to those, who does not share your political talking points & beliefs. why is it the responsibilities of hard working taxpayers, to pay for women's pills & abortions. so women are not stop to do, what they want with their body, as long as taxpayers monies are not spent on these choice of some women. the same way, as women who spent thousands & thousands of dollars to get pregnant, one example is in vitro fertilisation, should you & me pay for this so called women reproductive. for many women this is too sickening, since scotus roe v wade, hard working taxpayers are coerce to pay. so abortion is legal, so pay for it yourself. just like it is legal to drive with license, drink alcohol at 21 in many states, should taxpayers pay for the car & alcohol? stop this women reproductive madness.
Um, East to west- you are confusing the issue. The issue is not taxpayer funded choice.
It's LEGAL choice.
Big difference, wouldn't you say?
for the record- since we are going there- I'm personally pro life. BUT, in a country that constitutionally protects the freedoms of everyone, including those that don't share my faith or my version of morality, for LAWS in the US I support a women's right to choose.
Arlen Spector I'm praying for you. Gods know that there is still more left in you to give to the people.
Organs are shot what can be left
If he does not make it I can only say. One less Liberal Vote is a good thing
He voted 90 plus percent conservative, you dimwit.
@Carl Hubert, apparently you missed this in the article:
"former Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter"
He sold his soul to Harry Reid.
I hope you are only allowed Obamacare
hello armstrongsarfrom vancouver,b.c.,canada-thanks msnbc for inviting me to comment-1st my one minute of silence to neil armstrongs family-i truly great-great american-i came from rcaf aviation family-i am my mothers/fathers eyes-[sorry-error]squash-i trained @ridley college,st catharines,ont-i became near top in 30 of the best-we played too hard-from age 16-to age 50-now i am slighlty worn out-school motto-terar dumm prosim-latin for ""wear yourself out in battle-good health arken-hit the pool-i do caribe hotel projects=hit ocean @5am-sllep like kid after 9pm-good luck all mt american cousins-j denis huggard-as reagan would say-keep the spirit
Arlen Specter is a rare politician of uncompromising scruples, morals and a dedication to serving not only his constituents but all of America; His service as a prosecutor and Senator hopefully will be duplicated many times.
As another Independent I wish the 2 Party System that rules America would go away and let democracy return
Yeah, his uncompromising scruples,morals and dedication began with the Warren commission and its coverup of the Kennedy assassination. After that all the other bluster was easy.
The hatred being posted by conservative writers here speaks volumes. You people are so dead inside. You should go ahead and die now, because you have so much hatred, and malevolence in you now that you will never know joy in life. I do truly pity conservatives. You are lives unworthy of life.
tell us, is it hard being such a pillar of goodness? you're a blatant moron is more like it.
all our best,
the hatefull.
theezle cleetus? What are you saying with a name like that? How many teeth do you have?
I agree with you Michael, but we could go to another string on some other subject and we could find dems spewing hate at repubs.
It's happening on both sides and until both sides find a way to behave civil and work together this place is going to hell in a hand basket.
Just from a grammatical standpoint, I am frustrated when I read articles like this. For example, re the statement: He required emergency surgery to remove a growth in his abdomen that was effecting his breathing.
This should be "affecting" (meaning "influending") his breathing, not "effecting" (which means "bringing about"). Where the heck are the copy editors?
"Influending"? You're not one of those copy editors are you?
The GrammarLady agrees with Gloria! Gloria just made a typo, not a grammatical mistake.
How do the GrammarLady and Gloria know that the article author didn't make a simple typo (i.e. using an "e" instead of an "a")?
Good points all around...
<sarcasm>
In an era of the tea baggers, I have found a new found appreciation of the old republicans like Arlen Specter. Hope you feel better sir.
Yeah they were good little puppies who always went along to get along. Didn't want to miss any of those Georgetown parties with the free booze, food and girls.
Sure wish I had the same medical coverage he has! If he was under Obamacare he'd be dead!!!
I don't understand this urge to keep on living at all costs.
Characterizing the recurrence of Arlen Specter's cancer as something he has shown an ability to 'defeat' (as if it were some foe he could conquer by the force of his will) is to engage in non-scientific speculation. The fact is that if he has, to some extent, recovered his health, it is due to the constantly improving treatments available to cancer patients. I wish him well, but find no reason to engage in wish thinking.
I was never a fan of Specter, but I wish him well on this journey and hope that he recovers.
Great! I want him top live in pain for many years to come.
do you people not have ANY copy editors? It's Affected, not Effected!