Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter shared details of his metastatic melanoma cancer diagnosis and treatment during a press conference today at the Carter Center.
Carter also described the care and treatment he is receiving from a team of doctors at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University that includes Walter J. Curran, Jr., MD, executive director of Winship and a radiation oncologist; medical oncologist David H. Lawson, MD, who leads Winship's melanoma program; and Juan M. Sarmiento, MD, the Emory gastrointestinal surgeon who removed a tumor from Carter's liver in early August.
Referring to his doctors, Carter said "They have been like a team working very closely with me and I have complete confidence in them."
At the news conference, Carter gave details of his treatment plan, which includes four infusions of the drug pembrolizumab at three-week intervals. In addition, treatment includes one stereotactic radiation therapy treatment, which was delivered on August 20. No additional stereotactic radiation treatments are planned at this time.
Carter said he is following his doctors' recommendations and is "perfectly at ease with whatever comes."
Related links:
Video: President Carter's full press conference (The Carter Center website)
Clarification on President Carter's diagnosis (The Carter Center website)
