February 06, 2010

Layton: ‘I’m a fighter’

Sun Media Parliamentary Bureau

Jack Layton had barely revealed he has prostate cancer when his office started pumping out press releases about his itinerary.

He’ll be at a function in Brampton Saturday. He’ll attend a Chinese New Year’s celebration in Toronto at night. He’ll hold a press conference in Ottawa Monday.

The blare of public appearances was meant to show that despite his looming cancer battle, the federal NDP leader plans to shoulder a full load of official duties.

At a brief press appearance Friday, Layton, 59, said he is already undergoing treatment and feels fine.

“I’m a fighter,” he said, noting he plans to stay on both as party leader and MP for Toronto-Danforth. With his wife, Trinity-Spadina MP Olivia Chow, standing behind him, he also stressed that prostate cancer is an illness that can be beaten.

He joked, however, that he might have to watch the Olympics on TV more than planned as he recuperates from treatment. He said Canada’s Olympic athletes would inspire him.

Layton was diagnosed in late December and underwent further testing in January. He broke the news of his illness to his caucus in a conference call Friday that NDP colleague Nathan Cullen described as “surprisingly positive.

“Jack’s a friend and I’ve had a number of friends go through this and it’s certainly scary,” Cullen said.

Prostate cancer is a disease that hits close to home for Layton. His father, former Conservative cabinet minister Robert Layton, stepped down from the House of Commons in 1993 after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He fought it successfully.

“Like my dad I’m a fighter and I’m going to beat this,” Layton said.

Chow has also been successfully treated for thyroid cancer.

“She won her battle and I’m going to win mine as well,” Layton said.

His spokesman, Karl Belanger, said Layton will be treated in Toronto under the public health-care system. Another politician, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams, recently prompted some criticism for seeking coronary care outside Canada.

No specific details of Layton’s treatment were available, but medical experts said when prostate cancer is diagnosed early, recovery rates are high.

Layton spoke with the other three federal party leaders Friday. In a letter, Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe praised Layton’s “dynamism and determination.” Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff wished him “strength and courage.”

Speaking in Saskatoon, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said, “I know many people, as does he, who’ve faced this challenge and have overcome it, and so we’ll be pulling for him.

“I look forward to doing political battle with him for many years to come.”

Layton has been party chief for seven years. University of Toronto political scientist Nelson Wiseman said if treatment goes smoothly, it is unlikely the illness will have negative political implications for the NDP leader.

“If anything, it draws out sympathy from both supporters and non-supporters,” Wiseman said. – - –

Jack Layton

Born:John Gilbert “Jack” Layton, July 18, 1950 in Montreal. Raised in Hudson, Que. Place of Residence:Toronto, Ontario Family:Wife Olivia Chow(NDP MP); two children from previous marriage Education:BA(McGill University); MA, Ph. D.(York University)

Political Party:New Democratic Party Riding:Toronto-Danforth

1982-1991:City of Toronto councillor 1984-1988:Metro Toronto councillor 1990:Deputy Mayor of Toronto 1991:Ran for mayor and lost; founded Green Catalyst Group Inc., an environmental consulting business 1993:Ran for House of Commons; lost 1994-1997:Metro Toronto councillor 1997:Ran again in federal election; lost 1997-2003:City of Toronto councillor 2003:Elected federal NDP leader 2004:Elected to the House of Commons in the 2004 general election

– - – Deaths, 2009

All other cancers 94%

Prostate cancer 6%

New cases, 2009

All other cancers 85%

Prostate cancer 15%

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What is a prostate?

  • A male reproductive gland located right under the bladder, at the base of the penis.
  • The prostate surrounds the urethra -the duct that carries urine from the bladder to the tip of the penis
  • Main function is to make the fluid portion of sperm (seminal fluid)

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Risk factors

  • Age (especially after 65)
  • Family history of cancer
  • Diet rich in fats
  • African ancestry

Symptoms

  • Frequent and urgent need to urinate
  • Difficulty starting or stopping urine flow, and incapacity to urinate
  • Weak, decreased, interrupted urine flow
  • Bladder doesn’t feel empty after urinating
  • Burning or pain during urination
  • Blood in urine or sperm
  • Painful ejaculation