Jimmy Carter Is Cancer Free, Stopping Treatments

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has announced that he no longer needs to continue his cancer treatments.

Jimmy Carter Ends Cancer Treatments

Carter, 91, was being treated for melanoma skin cancer, which had spread to both his liver and brain. The immunotherapy treatment had helped to eliminate the cancer cells, and keep new ones from returning. However, should Carter’s cancer return, his spokesperson Deanna Congileo revealed that he would restart the treatment at Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute.

Carter’s other cancer treatments included radiation and surgery to remove a portion of his liver.

Carter had shared the good news about his health at the Sunday school class he teaches each week. “It’s a treatment called immunotherapy and it removed the obstacles to my own immune system to fight against cancer, basically – it’s kind of complicated,” Carter said. “But it’s worked very well for me and I had an MRI for 2 hours and 10 minutes and then the doctors determined that I didn’t need any more treatment.”

Jill Stuckey, a Maranatha Baptist Church member, explained that the congregation looks forward to Carter’s updates. “President Carter comes in, tells us phenomenal news and we all applaud,” Stuckey said. “We’re all on pins and needles wondering how things are going, because you never know from looking at somebody.”

Carter announced his cancer diagnosis in August. In December, he delivered the good news that he was cancer free, but that he planned to continue treatments.

Mr. Carter was the 39th president of the United States, and is the second-oldest surviving POTUS. Since leaving the White House in 1981 after one term in office, Carter has continued in public service by promoting healthcare and global democracy. He’s also authored more than 20 books, including his latest, A Full Life: Reflections at 90.