Outside the Beltway

Outside the Beltway

Peter Jennings has Lung Cancer

James Joyner
18

ABC News anchorman Peter Jennings has been diagnosed with lung cancer, according to reports from the AP and Canadian television.

Peter Jennings diagnosed with lung cancer> (CTV, YahooNews)

Peter Jennings, the chief ABC News anchorman for more than 20 years, has been diagnosed with lung cancer and will begin outpatient treatment next week, the network said Tuesday. Jennings, 66, told ABC News staff of his diagnosis Thursday morning and said he will continue to anchor the broadcast when he feels up to it as he begins chemotherapy. He last anchored World News Tonight on Friday and was too ill to work Saturday during the network’s special report on Pope John Paul’s death.

“There will be good days and bad, which means some days I may be cranky and some days really cranky,” he told ABC News employees in an e-mail.

Jennings, who was born in Toronto in 1938 and raised in Ottawa, began his broadcasting career in Canada. At the age of nine, he hosted his own weekly children’s show on CBC Radio. In 1962 he became co-anchor of the CTV national newscast and two years later moved to New York to join ABC-TV News. Jennings became a U.S. citizen in 2003 but still retained his Canadian citizenship.

From ABC:

ABC News “World News Tonight” anchor Peter Jennings has been diagnosed with lung cancer, and will begin outpatient treatment next week. Jennings is expected to continue anchoring the news during the chemotherapy “to the extent he can do so comfortably,” ABC News President David Westin wrote in an e-mail today to the network’s news staff. Charlie Gibson, Elizabeth Vargas and others will be substituting for Peter as necessary.

“He’s already bringing to this new challenge the courage and strength we’ve seen so often in his reporting from the field and in anchoring ABC News,” Westin wrote.

Jennings told “World News Tonight” senior staffers about his illness today. “Almost 10 million Americans are living with cancer,” Jennings wrote. “I am sure I will learn from them how to cope with the facts of life that none of us anticipated.”

My best wishes for his speedy recovery.

hat tip: Michael Demmons

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18 responses to “Peter Jennings has Lung Cancer”

  1. southernman Avatar
    southernman

    I am so tired of his liberal pointedness anyway. When can we get someone else to host the news on ABC please?

  2. jen Avatar
    jen

    Um, I’m not aware of anyone recovering from lung cancer. Are you?

  3. dw Avatar
    dw

    My father-in-law recovered from lung cancer ten years ago. He has it again now, but it’s in a different spot, and they have some optimism that he’ll recover.

  4. bryan Avatar
    bryan

    So none of these stories answer the real question: How did he get lung cancer?

  5. P Braker Avatar
    P Braker

    I just want Peter Jennings to know he is in my thoughts and prayers. I wish him a complete and speedy recovery. He has, and will always be my favorite anchorman.

    ‘Get Well, Peter!’

  6. jen Avatar
    jen

    I know he smoked at some point. Whether or not he still does, apparently the damage was done.

    dw – I’m happy to hear that your fil survived lung cancer. That’s rare.

  7. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Bryan,

    Jennings was a smoker until recently. I expect that’s the cause. Although I will note that many people get lung cancer having never smoked. In fact, many health addicts get cancer without having consciouisly done anything to knowingly affect their health.

    Cancer’s a bitch. It doesn’t always need an obvious reason.

  8. Meezer Avatar
    Meezer

    Not only do non-smmokers get it, but it is harder to catch in the early stages. A smoker’s lungs are already compromised, so add another insult and there are more likely to be definite symptoms in the beginning. My very good friend, a non-smoking Mormon, was not diagnosed until stage 4. And even then, the reason she went to the doctor was, “a little bronchitus that won’t clear up.” [her words]
    So get checked out if there is anything *at all* and you don’t smoke.

  9. OsamaBL Avatar
    OsamaBL

    I was at the GOP convention producing a show with jennings as a guest and he chained smoked through the interview. This was 1986 (I think). No surprise. I hope the good that comes out of this is people should think before lighting up. Lessons are found in bad moments.

  10. Blanche Lewallen Avatar
    Blanche Lewallen

    Hello Peter Jennings,

    I have just learned about your diagnosis of lung cancer.
    I don’t know what your faith is but from reading some of your Christianity Today material I would hope you do have faith in God.
    I would like to offer a prayer for you from The Bible – personalized.
    Psalms 107:20 God sent his word and healed Peter Jennings, and delivered him from this affliction of lung cancer.
    Isaiah 53:5c And with his stripes Peter Jennings IS healed[Jesus took 39 stripes on his body for all our sicknesses and all our dis-eases. While the devil will cause manifestions of sickness to come upon our body and we are diagnosed with “whatever” which is a fact, the truth that we are healed is higher than that fact and that is what we should confess. You may say “How can I say I am healed when my body feels like crap?” Simple – it is by faith that we take hold of this promise. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. God sees us healed and we must by faith renew our mind to this truth(Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.
    [GOD WANTS US TO SPEAK TO OUR MOUNTAINS]
    March 11:22b-24 (Jesus’ words) HAVE FAITH IN GOD. FOR VERILY I SAY UNTO [PETER JENNINGS], THAT [PETER JENNINGS] SHALL SAY UNTO THIS [LUNG CANCER], BE THOU REMOVED, AND BE THOU CAST INTO THE SEA; AND SHALL NOT DOUBT IN HIS HEART, BUT SHALL BELIEVE THAT THOSE THINGS WHICH HE SAITH SHALL COME TO PASS; [PETER JENNINGS] SHALL HAVE WHATSOEVER HE SAITH. THEREFORE I SAY UNTO [PETER JENNINGS], WHAT THINGS SOEVER YOU DESIRE, WHEN YOU PRAY, BELIEVE THAT YOU RECEIVE THEM, AND YOU SHALL HAVE THEM.

  11. Lucy Avatar
    Lucy

    Peter, Wishing you a total recovery from your illness and hoping that the effects from the chemo will be mild. Don’t worry too much about losing your hair(on a lighter note look at Bruce Willis) Keeping you in my prayers.

  12. Cheryl Gring Avatar
    Cheryl Gring

    Peter I believe you have been so inspirational to us all over the years now get some inspiration from us. Let us make you feel better by knowing we care about you, a man of integrity, honesty and compassion. I have watched you for all 20 years at your post and choose your show over all the others. I agree with another comment, don’t worry about the hair, you will do just fine. Take care, love and prayers.

  13. Diane Gates Avatar
    Diane Gates

    Dear Peter, I am a registered nurse. I have been researching and using a catagory of supplements called glyconutrients. Please do not automatically delete this… we owe it ourselves to at least look into something that could make a huge difference in our lives. I think these unique supplements, patented and scientically validated, may be of help to you. They are endorsed by Dr. Ben Carson (chief pediatric neurosurgeon at John Hopkins University)- having used the products when he was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer. The science of it can be found in chapter 56 of Harper’s Biochemistry. I have spent hours researching these supplements since my brother was diagnosed with leukemia. Not only is he on them, but we’re all on the so that we may optimize our health. (I think our evironment is getting increasingly toxic!) I actually get to see it make a difference in others, and would like to offer you the opportunity to make a difference in you life. This is not in place of any conventional treatment, it is considered complimentary. I’d be happy to send you some information. I think you’d find it compelling, and if needed, it would be no problem to have you talk directly to the medical director. I truly hope you respond and are at least willing to check it out. You have nothing to lose. You can look at the information and toss it if you’d like. You may contact me by email: Dianern2001@yahoo.com or you may call me on 425-417-7147. Take Care! Diane Gates

  14. Maly Campbell Avatar
    Maly Campbell

    Dear Mr. Jennings:

    My heart and prayer goes out with you. I wish well during your chemotherapy treatments. Stay positive and pray. If I may, please allow me to send you a copy of a book called All Advanced Cancers. During this process, you will probably be doing a lot of reading. Please make this book one of them. You will not regret it! Please email me back okaying me to send this to you( with a P.O. Box/Address)!

    Sincerely,

    Maly Campbell
    Recovered Breast cancer patient

  15. Sr. Lita Camozzi Avatar
    Sr. Lita Camozzi

    One of our sisters wants Peter Jennings’ ABC
    address so she can send him a card. Could you please send it to me at my yahoo address and I will tell her (Sister Sally Liota). Sincerely, Lita

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