Pittsburgh Mayor O'Connor has cancer

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

Latest news: Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor will undergo aggressive chemotherapy, beginning tonight, after he was diagnosed with primary central nervous system lymphoma. Doctors identified the lymphoma after a third round of tests conducted after O'Connor was hospitalized last week with flu-like symptoms. (4:34 p.m.)

Mayor O'Connor has lymphoma, back in hospital
Monday, July 10, 2006

By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


Dr. Frank Lieberman, chief of neuro-oncology at the cancer center, said primary CNS lymphomas are rare and the form Mr. O'Connor has -- called anaplastic T-cell -- occurs in only 5 percent of those. He said fewer than 50 of the cases have been studied.

Mr. O'Connor will be treated with high doses of the drug methotrexate, and patients usually respond within the first few days, Dr. Lieberman said. He will also be treated with the drug temodar in the times between methotrexate treatments. Patients often continue to go to work during this drug regimen, he said.

Dr. Marks said doctors are optimistic the mayor will react well. Surgery and radiation are not called for, he said.

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/06191/704806-100.stm

I am so sorry to hear this about O'Connor. He's only been in office for about 6 months (yes, he's a Democrat) and has been really visible and involved in city issues. I hope he can overcome this illness.

[benburch]

1. Oh my. Not a good prognosis with that diagnosis.

He likely has a 15% five year survival probability.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

3. Pittsburgh finally gets a guy who doesn't hide out in his office all day

Who seems really invested in doing the city's business by getting out in the communities, and, damn it, he gets cancer.

The last good mayor for Pittsburgh IMHO was Caliguiri who also developed a life threatening illness and died from it. Richard S. Caliguiri served as the very popular and effective mayor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1978 until his death in 1988.

[qanda]

5. I was just saying the same thing to my sister

I don't live in the city anymore, but Pittsburgh really needed someone like Mayor O'Connor. I just visited last week and could not believe how bad the city is. My old neighborhood is Homewood and while I was there my sister had just left the house for work when someone started shooting-- I almost lost my mind! O'Connor seemed to want change and hopefully he will have enough good health left to finish his life's work.

[chookie]

13. He's very popular here

Whether it's a broken main flooding the streets, or a shooting, or an abandoned car, or a house fire -- Bob has been out there, every day, engaging ordinary citizens, and vowing action. He seems to have a love of this city and its people more than I can remember in others -- and we, in turn, love him back. Unless you're a winning Steeler quarterback, it's hard to gain the respect of the Yinzers, but Bob achieved that.

The reaction has been deep shock and sadness, as he has made himself loved.

PLEASE, Bob -- fight this!!

[Kutjara]

2. No cancer is nice to have, but...

...CNS lymphoma is particularly bad. I hope he beats the odds.

[OzarkDem]

4. A drug from the 1950's

Methotrexate is a chemo drug developed for psoriasis in the 1950's and discovered to be effective against cancer in the 1970's. Its also used to treat breast and other cancers.

In spite of most of the news we hear about new drug discoveries, we're still using drugs developed in the 1970's and earlier.

This is how we fight the war against cancer - with drugs from the 1950's. Yet Bush has cut funding for research at the National Cancer Institute by 1/3.

This is an outrage and we should all be fed up with it.

[RamboLiberal]

6. Damn that is horrible news!

Finally Pittsburgh got a mayor who seemed to be getting the city on the right track and this happens!

I don't live in Pittsburgh, but since I live in Allegheny and technically work in Pittsburgh the politics of the city affects me as well. I confess I thought O' Connor was an old-school machine Dem, but I've been damn impressed by the job he has been doing since taking office.

Well good luck Mayor O' Connor - my best to you. And I hope this hasn't too badly ruined your enjoyment of how your city is shining for the All-Star Game tomorrow!

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

8. I live in the suburbs too but care about what happens in the 'burgh.

This is terrible news.:cry:

[gademocrat7]

7. I hope he can survive this disease.

I have taken methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis. It has nasty side effects.

[femmocrat]

9. This is so sad.... O'Connor is a really good guy who was quickly

becoming a great mayor. Just a few days ago, he was in a cherry-picker bucket showcasing the new free WiFi service to downtown and beyond. He took a little ribbing for his "Redd-Up Pittsburgh" campaign, but I have heard the city looks great for the All-Star Game. I wish they could have postponed his treatment just one day so he could celebrate at PNC Park tomorrow. Please DU'rs, say a little prayer for Mayor Bob. He has a really tough struggle ahead.

[qanda]

10. That makes me want to cry

I love Pittsburgh! I miss it terribly and I was hoping that O'Connor was just the answer that Pittsburgh needed to be turned around. He's been on my heart all evening and I pray he will beat the odds.

[globalvillage]

11. Oh, how horrible.

Sincere wishes for a full recovery, Mayor O'Connor.
This is just awful.

[wiley]

12. Let him know you care and wish him strength and courage

Someone have his address?

[chookie]

14. Here yins go

website
http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/mayor/

Office of Mayor Bob O'Connor
City of Pittsburgh
City-County Building - Fifth Floor
414 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

[Moderator]

15. k

[Divernan]

16. (Pittsburgh) Mayor Faces Aggressive Treatment for Rare Cancer

www.post-gazette.com/pg/06192/704954-53.stm

Mayor faces aggressive treatment for rare cancer
Doctors expect O'Connor to continue his duties as brain tumors are addressed
Tuesday, July 11, 2006

By Rich Lord and Anita Srikameswaran, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


The man who spent a decade running for mayor, and his first six months in office striving to make Pittsburgh the perfect host for the All-Star Game, will watch the contest from a hospital bed, on this, his first day of chemotherapy.Mayor Bob O'Connor was diagnosed yesterday with primary central nervous system T-cell lymphoma, a very rare variant of an unusual cancer of the brain and spinal cord.

He has four tumors on his brain and brain stem, doctors at UPMC Shadyside said, of which none is larger than an inch. He will start what doctors expect will be 12 weeks of intensive chemotherapy with several drugs. If he responds well, that will be followed by a year of less-frequent treatments.


The city's home rule charter includes provisions for the appointment of an acting mayor from among city department heads on a temporary basis and, in cases when a mayor must leave office, the ascent of the president of City Council, currently newcomer Luke Ravenstahl.

This morning, Mr. O'Connor is due to receive the first of bi-weekly high-dose treatments of methotrexate, an anti-cancer drug that can penetrate the barriers around the brain and spinal cord. He'll be hospitalized, likely for several days, each time he gets that treatment. The combination of methotrexate and Temodar is a treatment that's still in the clinical trial phase, said Dr. Marks. "But we're going to go ahead and treat him based on some preliminary data," he said.

[sugapablo]

17. Yeah but...

While I certainly hope O'Conner recovers, as a Pittsburgher, I have mixed feelings about Bob.

Especially with his involvement in the Penguin's slots "fix" that might rob this city of a free, privately funded, multi-purpose arena and our beloved NHL franchise.

Bob's close relationship with Rendell (the main player behind the fix) has tainted his political legacy.

And for those who are unfamiliar with the "fix", keep in mind this isn't a smear campaign by Republicans. Even our ex-mayor, Murphy (a fellow Democrat) publicly (and famously) said "the fix is in" on this issue.

So while I hope Bob recovers as this is a nasty ailment, I also hope that he might have a change of heart and do what's right for this city and not do us great damage for Rendell's political favors he needs to repay for the cash he received.


Plus, if O'Conner steps down, our 25 year old City Council chief will be mayor. (He's a newbie.)