The recent diagnosis of prostate cancer of former US President Joe Biden has again pointed out the health challenges facing the presidents of the nation. Throughout American history, numerous presidents confronted various types of cancer and often managed their conditions.
Cancer has influenced several US presidents both during and after their functional conditions, emphasizing how the disease also achieves the highest level of leadership. From George Washington’s skin cancer in the 18th century to Ronald Reagan’s colorectal cancer at the end of the 20th century, these cases reveal the resistance and determination of leaders who face serious health battles under the public’s eye.
Whether he fought privately or published publicly, Cancer’s impact on US presidents offers a poignant look into his personal matches.
Here is a view of some remarkable cases:
George Washington (1st President) – suspicious skin cancer
In 1794, George Washington was treated for a skin lesion, who believed that he and his wife Martha were cancer. Dr. James Tate surgically removed growth and Washington insisted that the next tissue was cut as a preventive measure. Although melanoma was not definitively diagnosed at the time, Washington took further steps to reduce the sun exposure, including carrying a wide institution hat and carrying an umbrella. He was then considered to be cancer.
Ulysses S. Grant (18th President) – neck cancer
The grant was diagnosed with a real tonsillary column carcinoma in 1884, several years after leaving the Presidency. Despite the pain and aggressive nature of the disease, he worked tirelessly on the completion of his memories, which became a literary and financial success. He died of neck cancer at the age of 63 in July 1885.
Grover Cleveland (22 and 24 President) – oral cancer
In 1893, during his second term of office, Cleveland had a cancer tumor removed from the roof of the mouth in a secret operation on board a private yacht to avoid public panic during the financial crisis. The operation was successful and Cleveland lived for another 15 years. All details on the procedure were not published until 1917 – almost ten years after his death at heart failure.
Herbert Hoover (31 President) – Colorectal Cancer
Herbert Hoover fought with colorectal carcinoma later in life and underwent surgery, which included a collectomy. Its condition was further complicated by bile stones, cirrhosis and gastrointestinal bleeding. He died in October 1964 at the age of 90 years of stomach bleeding caused by lesion Dieulafoy.
Lyndon B. Johnson (36th President) – skin cancer
The New York Times later revealed that Johnson had undergone a secret skin cancer surgery on the ankle while he was still in the office. At that time, the procedure was deposited in front of the public eye, in accordance with the practice of presidential privacy in the era on health matters.
Jimmy Carter (39. President) – metastatic melanoma
In 2015, Jimmy Carter was diagnosed with advanced melanoma, which spread to his liver and brain. It is remarkable that, after undergoing surgery, radiation and immunotherapy, a breakthrough drug Keytruda announced that it was only a few months later without cancer. Carter continued his humanitarian work well until he was 90 and inspired many with his resistance and grace.
Ronald Reagan (40. President) – Colorectal and Skin Cancer
During his second term in 1985, Reagan was removed part of his colon due to cancer. Two years later he was treated for skin cancer. Although he did not die of these diseases, his later years were marked by the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in 1994. In 2004 he died of complications of disease and pneumonia, which is a common condition in Alzheimer’s patients.
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