Rep. Norwood sicker than expected with extended chemotherapy

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Posted Friday, January 12 at 3:39 PM

http://www.accessnorthga.com/news/hall/newfullstory.asp?ID=110597

Rep. Norwood sicker than expected with extended chemotherapy

by The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Georgia Congressman Charlie Norwood is sicker than

expected and could be forced to miss work as he fights through

chemotherapy for cancer that has spread to his liver, his spokesman

said.

When Norwood, 65, began the treatments in early December, he said he

hoped to be at full strength as the new Congress convened Jan. 4.

But extended chemotherapy complicated by Norwood's fragile health

from a 2004 lung transplant have significantly weakened him and left

him spending some nights in a northern Virginia hospital.

``I just gotta get through it,'' Norwood said of the chemotherapy

regimen. ``They think they can corral (the cancer). I just gotta get

through it.''

Norwood, a dentist from Augusta, voted in a handful of ceremonial

matters, such as the election of House Speaker Pelosi, in the

first week of the congressional session. But he missed all the votes

this week on the Democrats' ``first 100 hours'' agenda, including

votes on increasing the minimum wage and expanding federally funded

embryonic stem-cell research.

Norwood spokesman Stone said aides have been encouraging the

lawmaker to focus more on his health and not on work, particularly

when his vote wouldn't affect the outcome, as was the case this week.

The seven-term Republican said he was not considering a leave of

absence.

``What else would I do?'' he joked in a phone interview.

Norwood's latest bout with cancer is believed to be a side effect of

immune suppression drugs he takes as a result of his 2004 lung

transplant. He suffers from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic

lung disease that required the transplant.

Last year, doctors discovered a small cancerous tumor on his non-

transplanted lung. They removed the cancer with surgery, but then

discovered more cancer on his liver when Norwood returned to

Washington after the November elections.

Throughout his illness, Norwood who uses oxygen and a motorized cart

has received treatment at Inova Fairfax Hospital just outside

Washington so that he can remain close to work. Stone said he has

recently been spending some nights at the hospital after treatments.

``I think he's doing as good as we could expect,'' said Republican

Rep. Deal of Gainesville, a longtime friend. ``Certainly he's

a fighter. He's come through some tough times already. I'm just

looking forward to him being back.''

Norwood, who represents a northeastern Georgia district bordering

South Carolina, was first elected in 1994 and easily won re-election

in November.