Should John Edwards Continue?

Question

this is only for an article I'm writing. Please only mature answers.
As we've probably all heard John edwards' wife, elizabeth, now has stage 4 breast cancer and will probably be on chemo for the rest of her life. Some people say he should continue because Elizabeth still wants to live her life, other people have said he needs to quit and be there for her. what do you think? Also do you think elizabeth was the one who told him to continue?

Everyone I said mature answers only. Meaning no criticizing Edwards for political reasons.

Answer 1

This is not a political opinion.

He should not run.

Running for President is not a regular job. He will be away from home more than at home.

It is just not helpful to her for him to be away *most* of the time. During times when she is greatly hurting, he will not be there. There will be times when she calls and he cannot go to her, even with her great pain. There will also be times when he calls and she will stifle her desire to tell him how the day's events went, particularly if it was painful.

I think that is a huge mistake.

Marriage trumps politics. She needs him more than any Democrat, or American, does.

Answer 2

John Edwards had my vote before his wife's condition became critical and he still has my vote. I whole-heartedly believe he'd make the best president. I also know what he is going through. My father had stage 4 brain cancer. My father was self employed and my mother is a housewife. So when he took ill, he obviously could not work. My mother became his 24/7 caretaker. And I and my siblings, who all work long hours, provided the income for his medical care. The Edwards are very fortunate in that they can hire such care when the time comes, and surly Edwards will be there during her toughest moments to provide only what he can for his wife.
As for me, I learned a lot from the experience of my father’s illness and death. I learned that working for a cause is the best thing you can do when stuck in such a situation. I learned that the terminally ill not only want to fight for their lives but they also want others around them to be just as passionate about their lives. In other words, you must continue but you also have to swing for the fences! Anything less would be a disservice not only to yourself but also to the ones you love.

Answer 3

First of all, she has bone cancer, not a recurrence of her breast cancer. Secondly, this is between them.
Most people though are probably going to think that he should dump everything and run to care for her, but some cancer victims, especially previous cancer survivors, would like for their family to carry on and not hover.
My mother was like this, she did not want to be seen as weak, a victim, as she has always been a strong person.
She tricked the family into going to a wedding and then scheduled her surgery!

I think Elizabeth Edwards is a tough person and very proud of her husband and it might do her good in her mind to have the campaign to think about and not dwell on the cancer and treatment. They have a sizeable family and I'm sure there will be many there around her and he won't be "neglecting" her.

I wish her well.

Answer 4

Ok, people....LISTEN UP..
When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, she's a breast cancer pt the rest of her life. It's the reason she can never ever give blood, etc...
When a woman has had an initial diagnosis of breast cancer and wins that battle the breast cancer can re-occur in the
brain, the bone or the liver. She is still considered a breast cancer diagnosis. This is a medical position of the disease and considered "the title" as it were.
This actually means there were abnormal cells that "hid out" from the first pass of chemo and metastasized to the other areas of her body....hence the breast cancer diagnosis still stands. She has added to her plate from her original cancer from the breast to the bones.
Please keep her in your prayers...AND formally I think any good husband would be with his wife...

Answer 5

I also agree that this is a personal matter for the Edwards family. I personally am glad he continued his run. I have not decided on whether I will support Edwards or Obama. Even if I do choose to support Mr. Obama, i think that the ideas that Mr. Edwards has been promoting for months about the working poor and health care has and will continue to be part of any Democrat's campaign and should be asked of all candidates for the office.

Answer 6

I really doubt Elizabeth told him to continue at least not with any real degree of sincerity. I know I am cynical of American Politics. To the point I believe it is very rare for an individual to run a presidential campaign with anything like what is best for the mass majority of Americans in mind. In fact such minded people are weeded out near the beginning. the system is set that way. That's why we have Bush the leader of each party is the one who raises the most money. DUH Corporations and big Business are going to give large amounts to people they know are greedy crooks that will let them pollute all the lakes , Oceans, Skies, and land. Release food and medicine without testing, even evolution causing DNA RNA messing with in our food and animals allowing tens upon tens of millions of the poorest of the poor in illegally. Not to help them, no to exploit them and keep the wages artificially low and workers insecure. So where's the glory, is it the perceived power? the % of wealth you tally to you and all yours and theirs...all that is petty and as old as time but the campaigning is brutal in the U.S, it is a special kind of BRUTAL drawn up in the pits of hell and two unsuspecting lottery winners get to run, only Edwards is not unsuspecting he has his eyes open having done the trial run. So he should not have allowed himself to be talked into missing what very well be last GOOD year of his wife's life...Mary.

Answer 7

This is a decision made by the Edwards' , the public has no voice in this matter. If this is the way Elizabeth would like to spend her remaining days, it's her business. John's life will continue after Elizabeth's death, and it shouldn't stop if they both agree to continue his campaign for president.

I believe that people who are faced with this life altering decision, make decisions that are practical for all. She knows what she wants out of the days remaining, and that must include continuing with the campaign.

Answer 8

I think that it's a personal decision, although I know from watching family members struggle with cancer that maintaining normalcy is very important for cancer patients. My aunt, who was a breast cancer patient, always said she wanted to live like she was living, not live like she was dying. So far it's a logic that has worked really well for her...she's survived nearly 5 years beyond what the doctors thought she would and she's still showing no evidence of her disease. So, really, they keep going and live their lives or they go home, curl up in a ball and feel sorry for themselves. Personally, I'd probably keep going as long and as far as I could.

Also, for those who said she has bone cancer...you are mistaken. It is a recurrance of her breast cancer and has been reported as such by many news sources including here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17730088/

Just because it has now metastasized to her bones does not mean that it is bone cancer. It's still breast cancer, it's just spread into the bones.

Answer 9

i don't think of John Edwards might desire to nevertheless run. he's not as generic because of the fact the different democratic applicants. He already is conscious that. purely staying in it to work out how a lot of human beings like him i assume. Politicians are so packed with themselves.

Answer 10

It depends on Elizabeth. If she wants him to continue at present, then he should. She's going to have to learn to live with this, apparently, and I'm sure she doesn't want to just hide in a corner. Some days will be better than others. If things get really bad, then of course they should quit the campaign, but it isn't that way now. Going on with their lives may actually help her deal with it.