| Cancer spurred Cain to go 'bigger and bolder'

The new GOP front-runner with the 9-9-9 plan opens up after the CNN Las Vegas debate about race, cancer, gay marriage and more, on Piers Morgan Tonight, 9 p.m. ET

Herman Cain took some hits in Tuesday's CNN Republican presidential debate, but so far the biggest opponent he has ever faced appears to be cancer ? a battle he says he has won. In 2006, the former Godfather's Pizza CEO says, he was given a 30% chance of survival against his stage 4 colon cancer.

It started when Cain experienced discomfort in his lower belly, according to a letter written earlier this year by one of his physicians, Dr. Martin York of Peachtree Hematology-Oncology?Consultants? in Atlanta.? The results of his colonoscopy showed stage?4 colon cancer that had spread to his liver. According to York's letter, Cain was treated in Atlanta with four cycles of chemotherapy before he underwent surgery to remove the cancer?from his liver and colon?at?the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

The liver is one of the most common organs for colon cancer to spread to, says Dr. Cathy Eng, one of Cain's doctors at M. D. Anderson. Following Cain's surgery, he received six more cycles of chemotherapy, finishing his treatment in January of 2007, according to Cain's book "This is Herman Cain."? Now more than five years later, his doctor says he's still cancer free.

Twenty five percent of colon cancer patients?are told they have advanced or?stage?4 colon cancer, just as Herman Cain was. The key to a good prognosis is really whether the tumor or tumors can be removed by surgery, says Eng.

The five year survival rate for patients whose tumor can't be taken out is?between 11 and 15%,? says Eng, but the percentage goes up dramatically - to between 35 and 65% - ?for patients who can get surgery. The highest risk of recurrence is within the first two years, but doctors typically continue to monitor patients for a total of?five years before they consider the patient to be?cancer free, adds Eng.

Detecting colon cancer early makes a big difference in a patient's treatment and ability to survive. Colonoscopies are the standard for men and women starting at the age of 50 and repeating the test every ten years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some people may need to consider getting the test earlier especially if they have a family history of cancer. Certain population groups such as African-Americans are more at risk for colon cancer so getting tested as early as 45 is key.? African-Americans tend to have more advanced disease, says?Eng. But she adds, it's important to keep in mind that 75% of colon cancer diagnoses are "sporadic," meaning the cancer is not a result of family history.

So how did Cain evolve from cancer patient to GOP front-runner? Cain told CNN after beating cancer he felt he had to do "something bigger and bolder," which is what led him to decide to make a run for the GOP nomination. In his book, he also talks about the birth of his grandchild and feeling the need to make a difference in that child's future by seeking public office.

Cain:? "Because of my faith, I wasn't afraid"

While Cain is cancer free, he should be working every day to maintain a healthy lifestyle, balance his diet and exercise regularly says Eng. "It's important to be a good patient and get any follow up that he needs."

Source: http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/19/cancer-spurred-cain-to-go-bigger-bolder/

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