The Latest: Jimmy Carter says he has cancer on brain, will undergo radiation treatment

ATLANTA – The latest on Jimmy Carter’s first public comments since announcing his cancer diagnosis:

10:40 a.m. (1440 GMT)

Former President Jimmy Carter is leaving open the possibility of taking a previously planned trip to Nepal despite undergoing radiation treatment for cancer on his brain.

Carter said Thursday in his first public remarks since revealing his cancer diagnosis that if he doesn’t make the trip to Nepal in November, others from his family would probably go in his place. He says he will cut back on some work and his schedule. He says his first radiation treatment will be Thursday afternoon.

Carter also says he will teach Sunday School at his hometown in Plains, Georgia, this weekend, and that he plans to teach as long as he’s able.

He appeared at the news conference in a dark blazer, red tie and jeans and was surrounded by friends and family.

Carter was the nation’s 39th president, defeating Gerald Ford in 1976. Ronald Reagan succeeded him in 1980 after a landslide victory. Carter rebuilt his career as a humanitarian, founding the Carter Center in 1982 to focus on global health care and democracy. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

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10:25 a.m. (1425 GMT)

Jimmy Carter says his cancer has shown up in his liver and on his brain and that he will undergo radiation treatment.

Carter said Thursday in his first public remarks since his diagnosis that the cancer was first discovered as a tumour on his liver. On Aug. 3, he says, he underwent surgery to remove the tumour. He says about one-tenth of his liver was removed.

But he says that later, four spots of melanoma were found on his brain. He says he will have his first radiation treatment Thursday afternoon.

He says no cancer has been found on his pancreas or any other part of his body so far. He says doctors are monitoring closely.

He says he will cut back “fairly dramatically” on work at his Carter Center in Atlanta. He says treatment will be his top priority.

Carter says he is not feeling despair or anger over his health. He says he feels good, with only slight pain.

He says: “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes. I’m ready for anything. I’m looking forward to a new adventure.”

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10:10 a.m. (1410 GMT)

Former President Jimmy Carter says cancer that first was discovered as a tumour on his liver also is on his brain, and he will undergo radiation treatment.

Carter said Thursday at a news conference in his first public remarks since his diagnosis that he would undergo the first treatment later that day.

Carter also says he will cut back “fairly dramatically” on his work at the Carter Center.

Carter says a tumour showed up in an MRI after he sought treatment at Emory hospital in Atlanta. He says he first felt sick while he was in Guyana in May to monitor an election.

He says he underwent surgery to remove the tumour on his liver on Aug. 3.