Former president Jimmy Carter seems to be in good health. Recently, CNN reported that, while teaching in Sunday School, he announced that he has no more signs of cancer.
"My most recent MRI brain scan did not reveal any signs of the original cancer spots nor any new ones,” Carter said in a statement. “I will continue to receive regular three-week immunotherapy treatments of pembrolizumab."
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Carter's family friend and fellow church member Jill Stuckey was surprised to hear the gentleman share the good news.
“We were very surprised,” Stuckey, who is also a church member at Maranatha Baptist Church where Carter gave the announcement, said. “This was just wonderful news out of the blue.”
A congregation of about 350 people were present at that time, many of them visitors. All of them were very happy with what Carter said.
“The church, everybody here, just erupted in applause,” Stuckey added.
James Carter, the former president's grandson, confirmed the validity of what his grandfather had said.
“There’s no cancer in his body at this point,” said James, adding that his grandfather will keep on receiving the treatment. “It’s incredible news.”
The Washington Post reported that, in August, a small cancerous mass had been removed from Mr. Carter's liver. Shortly after, doctors discovered four spots of melanoma on his brain and he's been under treatment since then.
Doctors at the Emory University's Winship Cancer Institute, where the politician receives his treatments, did not give any comment regarding Carter's announcement. However, a Dr. Len Lichtenfeld gave a word of caution regarding the good news.
“It doesn’t mean that there is no cancer in his body; it means that there is no indication that they can find cancer for the present,” said Lichtenfeld, American Cancer Society deputy chief medical officer. He wasn't involved in Carter's treatments.
Despite the possibility of cancer cells remaining in Carter's bloodstream, Lichtenfeld said that this news is still encouraging.
“The President has done exceptionally well. There are still many patients with melanoma who don’t have this outcome,” Lichtenfeld explained. “He’s in the best possible place.”
Gerald Rafshoon, a former White House communications director who has known the former president for a long time, is confident of Carter's capacity.
“From [the] very beginning [of this], I’ve said that in any battle between cancer and Carter’s brain, Carter’s brain will win,” Rafshoon said. “I’ve been up against that brain. It’s a tough opponent.”
