Reagan talks about cancer

Press, 30 July 1985, Page 10

Reagan talks about cancer

NZPA-AP Washington President Reagan said in an interview released yesterday that he would not let fear of cancer affect his life, although the recent removal of a malignant tumour from his colon had left him vulnerable. The interview, the first since Mr Reagan underwent surgery on July 13, was conducted with Hugh Sidey of “Time” magazine. Asked whether he would turn over his duties to the Vice-President, Mr Bush, if he should again need treatment, Mr Reagan said: “On the basis of all that I’ve been told by the doctors ... I can’t see anything of that kind coming.” But he said: “If I found myself ever physically in-

capacitated where I, in my own mind, knew I could not fulfill the requirements, I’d be the first one to say so and step down." The President recalled that in a briefing immediately after the operation, Dr Steven Rosenberg, chief of surgery at the National Cancer Institute and a member of the surgical team, used the words, “the President has cancer”. The President said Dr Rosenberg later amended this and “says the proper thing is, ‘I had cancer’.” “It had not spread,” said Mr Reagan. “No evidence of anything else. So I am someone who does not have cancer. But, like everyone else, I’m apparently vulnerable