George to begin chemotherapy next week

• Cancer • Aug 28, 12

Following the advice of his medical team, Chicago’s Cardinal Francis George will begin four months of chemotherapy next week, according to a statement released Tuesday by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago.

George, 75, who battled bladder cancer six years ago, learned this month that doctors had discovered cancerous cells on his liver and a kidney.

Tests, including a biopsy last week, confirmed that the removal of a cancerous nodule from the cardinal’s liver left no cancer behind, the archdiocese reported. But doctors also confirmed that the cardinal’s right kidney contained a malignant lesion. Because cancerous cells are impossible to detect in the bloodstream, they could not rule out a presence of the disease elsewhere in the body, according to the statement.

Having consulted with the cardinal’s doctors at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., physicians at Loyola University Medical Center reportedly recommended Monday that he should undergo chemotherapy.

Starting Sept. 5, the cardinal will begin the first of six three-week sessions — two weeks receiving drugs followed by a one-week break — to eradicate cancer cells. The regular one-week breaks are built in to allow his immune system to recuperate.

At the cardinal’s request, doctors at Loyola could not discuss his diagnosis or treatment. But based on the information provided by the archdiocese, oncologists who specialize in bladder, kidney and prostate cancer at other hospitals said the treatment indicates a recurrence of the original disease rather than a new liver or kidney cancer that has spread. The treatment for each is very different, doctors said.

“What they are stating is a decision has been made for the cardinal to receive chemotherapy,” said Dr. Daniel Shevrin, a genital urinary oncologist at NorthShore University HealthSystem. “That right off the bat tells you that this is a metastatic situation and most likely is related to the cancer we call a urothelial cancer or transitional cancer.”

The form of cancer that struck George in 2006, called carcinoma in situ, accounts for about 10 percent of bladder cancer cases. The tumor was considered superficial — a flat growth limited to the wall of the bladder. But the cancer cells were of an aggressive type that could have spread rapidly to other parts of the body. At the time, doctors did not believe the cancer had spread.

Dr. Mary Mulcahy, associate professor of medicine at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, said if the cancer cells are left over from the bladder cancer six years ago, that could indicate they are slow growing.

“It’s always a good sign when there’s a long time period between the primary tumor and a recurrence,” she said. “It generally tells us it might behave a little less aggressively. As cancer goes, it could be favorable.”

After George was diagnosed with cancer in 2006, doctors removed his bladder, prostate and a portion of his right ureter. Since then, checkups and CT scans at Mayo Clinic every three to six months have yielded a clean bill of health.

In January, George, in his 15th year as the leader of the nation’s third-largest archdiocese, became the first Chicago archbishop to submit the letter of resignation required of all Catholic bishops when they turn 75. He had not expected Pope Benedict XVI to grant that retirement for another three years. On Friday, he said the cancer diagnosis “might change the timeline a little bit.”

During the four-month course of treatment, George plans to maintain his regular work schedule and meet his daily obligations, though his public schedule will be reduced to accommodate a weakened immune system. Doctors say he will likely be given a combination of Gemcitabine and Platinum.

George has six auxiliary bishops to whom he can delegate duties. Msgr. John Canary, who serves as vicar general, would step in if the cardinal becomes incapacitated.

“When the course of treatment is completed, the archdiocese will share the doctors’ analysis of his condition,” the statement said.

Matthew Lieser, 31, said the cardinal’s illness has been a prayer topic for many Catholics lately. Lieser, who’s studying to become a priest, said it’s a community issue.

“The cardinal has affected a lot of Catholics,” said Lieser as he left Mass at Holy Name Cathedral on Tuesday. “His health will continue to be a topic of conversation in a lot of masses.”

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Tribune reporter Bridget Doyle contributed.

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