Elizabeth Edwards Loses Her Battle with Cancer
Having recently made the difficult decision to stop treatment, Elizabeth Edwards has sadly lost her battle with cancer.
The estranged wife of one time Vice Presidential nominee John Edwards passed away earlier today (December 7) at the age of 51 after her breast cancer spread to her liver.
The previous day, Elizabeth posted a message on her Facebook page, which read: “You all know that I have been sustained throughout my life by three saving graces – my family, my friends, and a faith in the power of resilience and hope. These graces have carried me through difficult times and they have brought more joy to the good times than I ever could have imagined. The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And, yes, there are certainly times when we aren’t able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It’s called being human.
“But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful. It isn’t possible to put into words the love and gratitude I feel to everyone who has and continues to support and inspire me every day. To you I simply say: you know.”
As for her struggle with the deadly disease, Edwards’ cancer was said to have been the estrogen receptor-positive (ER-positive) type in which “the cancer grows in high-estrogen environments.”
Talking about Elizabeth’s diagnosis, Dr. Matthew Ellis of Washington University told ABC News, “More breast cancer patients die from ER-positive cancer that’s become resistant to anti- hormone drugs than any other type of cancer. The cancer relapses despite the use of these drugs.”
Also describing Edwards’ final days, Dr. Ellis said, “The doctors and nurses and caregivers are all gathered around and will provide the maximum amount of physical and psychological support that can be provided,” said Ellis. “The dying process is different for every patient, but no one should have to die alone.”
Ellis added, “There is such a thing as a peaceful death, and the patient can reach closure with her loved ones.”
