Christopher Hitchens being treated for esophageal cancer

[hlthe2b]

I admire his tremendous intellect while acknowledging his extremely controversial nature in many areas, but wish him a complete and rapid recovery...

Christopher Hitchens has been diagnosed with esophageal cancer.

The Vanity Fair and Slate columnist and author of recent memoir Hitch 22 recently suspended his book tour for what was described as "personal reasons."

Now, he reveals in a statement:

I have been advised by my physician that I must undergo a course of chemotherapy on my esophagus. This advice seems persuasive to me. I regret having had to cancel so many engagements at such short notice.

Hitchens, a well-known smoker, attempted in 2008 to quit but reportedly still smokes, according to a recent Washington Post article.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/30/christopher-hitchens-canc_n_631429.html

[Octafish]

1. Don't agree with his support for the War on Terra, but he's a hell of a writer...

...and one smart son of a gun.

Get well soon, Hitch!

[samrock]

2. I hope they stop it and he has a speedy recovery.

I would not wish cancer on my worst enemy...

[Ken Burch]

3. I wish the man a speedy recovery.

While his views of the Iraq War were and are abhorrent, Hitchens has always been a writer and thinker that makes you stretch your perceptions.

Anybody know what the odds are for recovery in this type of cancer?

[Sugarcoated]

15. If you catch it early, the odds are favorable

if not, the odds go down considerably.

[gateley]

4. I hope he responds well to the treatment and makes a full recovery. nt

[mike_c]

5. best wishes for his recovery-- after all, there aren't many opportunities...

...to change your mind for the better when you're dead.

[customerserviceguy]

6. Is smoking connected with esophageal cancer?

I wasn't aware of that. I have Barrett's esophagus, and I take a pill a day to ward off acid reflux, but maybe my doctor didn't mention smoking to me, because I told him I've never smoked.

If smoking has nothing to do with this cancer, then why mention it? Is it a way to help people who think that shit cannot happen to them if they only live correctly?

[hlthe2b]

7. Yes. smoking and alcohol both independently & even more, together

raise the risk of esophageal cancer. gastric esophageal reflux disease (GERD) and Barrett's esophagus accounts for about 30% of risk (though many with these conditions NEVER develop cancerous lesions).

As to tobacco and alcohol: Here's a bit of a summary from American Cancer Society:
The use of tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and chewing tobacco, is a major risk factor for esophageal cancer. The risk goes up with increased use -- the more cigarettes smoked per day and the longer a person uses tobacco, the higher the cancer risk. Someone who smokes at least a pack a day has twice the chance of getting adenocarcinoma of the esophagus than a nonsmoker. The link to squamous cell esophageal cancer is even stronger, with more than half of all cases linked to smoking. The risk of esophageal cancer improves if tobacco use stops.

Drinking alcohol also increases the risk of esophageal cancer. The chance of getting esophageal cancer goes up with higher intake of alcohol. Alcohol affects the risk of the squamous cell type more than the risk of adenocarcinoma.

Combining smoking and drinking alcohol raises the risk of esophageal cancer much more than using either alone.
************

Other risk factors include obesity (increases gastric reflux), occupational exposure to certain chemicals, including lye and solvents used in dry cleaning, previous (treated) H. pylori infection, and other cancers (lung and throat)....

[customerserviceguy]

21. Thanks for that

Again, I guess my doctor didn't tell me to knock off smoking, because I've never done it. He did tell me to be very careful, and I have. Two endoscopies of my esophagus about a year apart showed no significant changes.

[AngryOldDem]

8. It's a risk factor.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/esophagus/page5


And it stands to reason since smoke gets sucked down the esophagus after passing through the throat.

[amborin]

19. hot beverages, too; hope he goes to Mayo Clinic

[NotThisTime]

9. Reflux is also a serious risk factor. This is a bad one to get... terrible treatment....

I don't agree with him on much, but this is a tough one to take.

[BurtWorm]

10. May God bless him and wrap him in the mercy of His love.

:patriot:

[hlthe2b]

11. Your sincerity in your chosen words...

absolutely oozes..... :eyes:

[KonaKane]

20. Ohhhh boy, this is amazing.

But....no further comment.

[RagAss]

12. Get Well Christopher.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

13. I wish him well...

Esophageal cancer is what killed Humphrey Bogart, BTW...

[Ichingcarpenter]

14. He is a worthy intellect who I read and listen to.

Not because I agree with him all the times but I can stomach him
and he doesn't insult my intelligence when he talks or writes.

BTW he's an American citizen now.

I have followed his lectures and debates at Universities
I wish him well and healing.....


This is a good place to start.


Collision: Christopher Hitchens vs. Douglas Wilson


COLLISION carves a new path in documentary film-making as it pits leading atheist, political journalist and bestselling author Christopher Hitchens against fellow author, satirist and evangelical theologian Douglas Wilson, as they go on the road to exchange blows over the question: “Is Christianity Good for the World?”.

The two contrarians laugh, confide and argue, in public and in private, as they journey through three cities. And the film captures it all. The result is a magnetic conflict, a character-driven narrative that sparkles cinematically with a perfect match of arresting personalities and intellectual rivalry.

In May 2007, leading atheist Christopher Hitchens and Christian apologist Douglas Wilson began to argue the topic “Is Christianity Good for the World?” in a series of written exchanges published in Christianity Today. The rowdy literary bout piqued the interest of filmmaker Darren Doane, who sought out Hitchens and Wilson to pitch the idea of making a film around the debate.

In Fall 2008, Doane and crew accompanied Hitchens and Wilson on an east coast tour to promote the book compiled from their written debate titled creatively enough, Is Christianity Good for the World?. “I loved the idea of putting one of the beltway’s most respected public intellectuals together with an ultra-conservative pastor from Idaho that looks like a lumberjack”, says Doane. “You couldn’t write two characters more contrary. What’s more real than a fight between two guys who are on complete opposite sides of the fence on the most divisive issue in the world? We were ready to make a movie about two intellectual warriors at the top of their game going one-on-one. I knew it would make an amazing film.”


http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/collision-christopher-hitchens-vs-douglas-wilson/

[arthritisR_US]

16. not a fan of his but I wish him well and hope he beats the cancer! n/t

[JitterbugPerfume]

17. I hope his treatment goes well

he is a very good writer and extremely smart. That is a good combination any way you look at it.

[LeftishBrit]

18. That's awful. I hope he recovers fully.

Don't agree with most of his views; but we're all on the same side against cancer.