Tony Snow's Colon Cancer Spreads to Liver

Tony Snow's Colon Cancer Spreads To Liver

POSTED: 11:25 am PDT March 27, 2007
UPDATED: 12:15 pm PDT March 27, 2007

LOS ANGELES -- President George W. Bush told White House Spokesman Tony Snow on Tuesday to "stay strong," as he faces another battle with cancer.

The 51-year-old was diagnosed with colon cancer two years ago.

He had his colon removed and then underwent chemotherapy.

Doctors removed a cancerous growth near his pelvis Monday.

Bush said Snow called him Tuesday morning and told him his cancer was back and that it has spread to his liver.

Bush said he's looking forward to the day Snow returns to the White House. Snow is expected to remain in the hospital for about a week.

NBC4's Dr. Bruce Hensel said the condition can be very serious since the liver is the organ that metabolizes the body.

"It can be very serious, but in rare cases I have seen people recover from primary liver cancer. Liver cancer that comes from another place, it's unlikely. You can respond to treatment and do fairly well for a time," said Hensel.

Hensel said chemotherapy is usually used for treatment, but occasionally radiation is used. In rare cases, Hensel said a piece of the liver could be removed.

Hensel said that KNBC has partnered up with CVS/pharmacy, Hoag and Huntington Hospitals to give away free colorectal cancer screening tests. You can pick up the EZ test at any CVS pharmacy, Hensel said.

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