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Sen Chris Dodd diagnosed with prostate cancer

Takes swipe at health care system; says he is lucky to have physicals

By
KELLY FINCHAM,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Friday, July 31, 2009, 4:31 PM
Updated Friday, July 31, 2009, 4:59 PM

 

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Sen. Chris Dodd

Irish American Senator Christopher Dodd, 65, has been diagnosed with cancer.

Dodd, (D-CT) has been diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer and will have surgery in early August.

However, the senator was upbeat and said his prognosis is good and that he plans to run again next year for a possible sixth term.

Dodd will be operated on in Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York after Congress adjourns for the summer recess next week and says he is "very confident we're going to come out of this well.''

"I'm running for re-election,'' he said. "I'll be a little leaner, a little meaner, but I'm running.''

Dodd, who is chair of the Senate Banking Committee, is also a key player in the battle to reform the health care system. He stepped up to that role when his close friend and fellow Irish American, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) was diagnosed with brain cancer.

"I feel fine,'' Dodd said. "This is very common. If you've got to have cancer, I'm told by some doctors, this is the slowest going, most manageable form to have.''

Dodd also took a swipe at the nation's crumbling health system by highlighting the fact that his cancer was picked up early in a routine physical.

"A person who loses health care coverage, that physical may not be something that you can afford,'' he said. ``I'm fortunate as a member of Congress to have those benefits.''

Dodd faces a rough re-election campaign next year.

A recent poll showed 52 percent of respondents disapproved of his job performance.

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3 Comments

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Posted by JoeAnnie on Jan 25, 2010, 07:13 PM EST
Time for 4-6yr terms for all of the congress. Plus the same benifits that the rest of America has. SS. and if the Health system does come into the times, make them have to use it. I am tired of the profesional Gov't long timers. Push them out after their terms. And do get Term limits for them all
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Posted by tullamore on Nov 29, 2009, 09:04 AM EST
He and all his cronies in the Congress have and will continue to have the best health care available. That is probably why Sen Kennedy survived so long. Cancer strikes all walks of life and we should be able to have access to the same top notch Cancer Centers as the members of Congress. I fear with government run health care will be rationed. A patient of Sen Kennedy's age may very well be denied treatment.
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Posted by rndidonato on Nov 16, 2009, 10:30 AM EST
By the way, if there is health care "reform" in the US, Mr. Dodd will retain his continue to receive medical benefits as they are now. He will still be able to go to Sloan Kettering Memorial for his cancer treatment. Not so for the rest of us who may see out medical insurance changed. If the government took over his insurance, he would probably be dead before he was treated,
 


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