Bob Novak retires due to “dire” brain cancer diagnosis
posted at 2:21 pm on August 4, 2008 by Allahpundit
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
Ted Kennedy, Tony Snow, Russert, now this.
Robert Novak has announced his immediate retirement following the diagnosis of a brain tumor, a prognosis the Sun-Times’ political columnist describes as “dire.”
“The details are being worked out with the doctors this week, but the tentative plan is for radiation and chemotherapy,” Novak said.
There aren’t many political columns I consistently enjoy but Evans-Novak was always gossipy fun. I’ll miss it.
Well wishes are welcome below. Novak’s announcement of his diagnosis last week provided some of the most rip-roarin’ ghoulish left-wing schadenfreude yet, so we should be in for an extra-special treat tonight. There are already 30 comments pending at HuffPo, but none yet approved. Does Arianna dare?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages:
Prayers up for Novack
Tru2my2 on August 4, 2008 at 2:23 PM
The man has had an incredible career – INCREDIBLE – I wish him and his family the best of luck with this.
jake-the-goose on August 4, 2008 at 2:23 PM
I hope Novak will opt for surgery as well. Doctors are quick to say “inoperable” but if you can get out 50% or more of the tumor with the knife, always do it. Novak should consult with the folks who did Ted Kennedy’s recent surgery.
funky chicken on August 4, 2008 at 2:25 PM
Saying a prayer for him. Definitely don’t have a good feeling about this.
JammieWearingFool on August 4, 2008 at 2:26 PM
Fight it, Bob. May God care for you and yours, and may He guide your doctors.
OhioCoastie on August 4, 2008 at 2:26 PM
I am praying for Mr. Novak and his family in these difficult times. It is a lesson for all: savor the things that really matter in life while you are able. Best of luck and hope you enjoys many remaining years with your loved ones.
trs on August 4, 2008 at 2:27 PM
We will be wishing you and your family the best of luck Mr. Novak.
Les in NC on August 4, 2008 at 2:28 PM
Goodnight, dark prince.
Dr. Charles G. Waugh on August 4, 2008 at 2:28 PM
forgot WFB dying this year too. horrible news. the left will be bringing back up Plame again.
whats the symptoms of a brain tumor? headaches? just wonder if there is anyway to catch them before its too late
jp on August 4, 2008 at 2:29 PM
As I said in the headlines, I don’t like Robert Novak much at all. But I would never wish this on anyone (well, OK, Bin Laden).
amerpundit on August 4, 2008 at 2:29 PM
Sad. Very sad.
petefrt on August 4, 2008 at 2:31 PM
You never know when you’re number is up so make the most of it, folks.
We had a death from brain cancer in my family late last year and there are worse ways to go. The issue often is, if the diagnosis is terminal, how much can you or do you want to do to put off the inevitable, and are the consequences of treatment actually worth it in the long run.
BigD on August 4, 2008 at 2:32 PM
Depending on the type of tumor:http://www.biocure.com/whatis/cancer.html
I read a book by a guy who had chemoembolization for an aggressive (but non-carcinogenic) brain tumor and had pretty amazing success…as in over 5 year survival when the docs first gave him less than 6 months.
Just posting this stuff in case any lurkers/commenters are interested.
funky chicken on August 4, 2008 at 2:32 PM
Definitely, Mr. Novak will be in my thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.
Wildcatter1980 on August 4, 2008 at 2:33 PM
All the best wishes for Mr. Novak. While we are well-wishing (not sure if it’s been mentioned, sorry if it has) Morgan Freeman is hospitalized after car wreck.
RushBaby on August 4, 2008 at 2:33 PM
We send all our best to the Prince of Darkness and his family.
tree hugging sister on August 4, 2008 at 2:35 PM
I hope the faith he came to later in life will give him comfort at this difficult time. As he says in his book “Prince of Darkness…” what pushed him to finally join the Catholic Church was when a Catholic woman at one of his lectures told him “Mr. Novak, life is short, but eternity is forever.” God bless him.
http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=24964
deedledee on August 4, 2008 at 2:35 PM
hope he gets better soon.
ThackerAgency on August 4, 2008 at 2:38 PM
God Bless Robert Novak, and comfort him and his family.
emailnuevo on August 4, 2008 at 2:39 PM
True words. Vaya con Dios Mr. Novak.
byteshredder on August 4, 2008 at 2:39 PM
The Prince of Darkness he wasn’t even though he enjoyed the misnomer.
Valiant on August 4, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Precise symptoms generally depend upon where they’re located. Mood swings, dizziness or loss of balance, slurred speech, visual impairment, etc. Headaches are more likely if the tumor is large or near the surface of the brain – creating pressure.
Almost any symptom can be attributed to some other cause, however.
My mother died of complications relating to an operation on a large though non-cancerous brain tumor (no need for condolences, this was ten years ago). Apparently, the tumor had been growing for many years. Her mood swings, memory impairments, and other problems had been attributed to alternate psychological and physical causes.
CK MacLeod on August 4, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Best wishes to him.
I’ll also add that it’s quite possible that he didn’t realize he hit that pedestrian in light of his illness, but I don’t expect anyone who trashed him over it to issue any apologies.
forest on August 4, 2008 at 2:41 PM
May he fight the good fight, as he fought throughout his lifetime.
Tim Burton on August 4, 2008 at 2:42 PM
Sorry to hear this. Good luck to him and his family, and to Morgan Freeman also. May God bless and protect you all.
AZCoyote on August 4, 2008 at 2:43 PM
“The sickness of a family member, friend or neighbor is a call to Christians to demonstrate true compassion, that gentle and persevering sharing in another’s pain.”
Ad Limina Apostolorum to Bishops of the United States-John Paul II -1998
I wish you all the best, Bob.
Glynn on August 4, 2008 at 2:44 PM
hope freeman is okay, was shocked that he was driving a 96 Nissan. maybe he’s frugal because he’s bound to be loaded.
jp on August 4, 2008 at 2:44 PM
There are already 30 comments pending at HuffPo, but none yet approved. Does Arianna dare?
Pig headed, left wing whore that she is, I’ll bet she does.
RWLA on August 4, 2008 at 2:45 PM
:(
God bless and keep him.
trailortrash on August 4, 2008 at 2:45 PM
Best wishes for a speedy recovery for Mr. Novak. I’ve been down the road with a relative with brain cancer, and I urge you to never give up.
RWLA on August 4, 2008 at 2:45 PM
scary enough to want to get a Cat Scan done every year or so.
jp on August 4, 2008 at 2:46 PM
So sorry to hear this. Cancer is an awful thing.
Sekhmet on August 4, 2008 at 2:48 PM
In many regards, this has been a very sad year. Prayers for him and his family.
Weight of Glory on August 4, 2008 at 2:51 PM
May God be with him and his family.
ocbrat on August 4, 2008 at 2:51 PM
MRI
funky chicken on August 4, 2008 at 2:52 PM
Pray right now for Mr. Novak and his loved ones that this valley ends with great joy for him.
saved on August 4, 2008 at 2:53 PM
Lot’s of prayers up for Bob. He’s a good man and I hope he overcomes this. I’ll miss his reporting.
Dusty on August 4, 2008 at 2:54 PM
I had a colleague who was a bright mathematician who died from an inoperable brain cancer. Treatment kept him alive for a year but the slow mental deterioration was sad to observe. I hope that Robert Novak can beat the odds and avoid fading into that cruel mental prison.
Annar on August 4, 2008 at 2:55 PM
Poor man and his family. My prayers are definitely with him and his loved ones!!
mjk on August 4, 2008 at 2:58 PM
Best wishes to Mr. Novak.
Sue on August 4, 2008 at 2:58 PM
shocked that he was driving a 96 Nissan
I’m sure he kept it at his home there, especially if he just wanted to go home and be normal.
Sue on August 4, 2008 at 3:00 PM
Seems like it’s all happening at once.
Hope all is well with the Novak family in this difficult time.
Esthier on August 4, 2008 at 3:00 PM
My prayers are with you, Bob. Fight like Hell.
Ropera on August 4, 2008 at 3:05 PM
Whether you like his politics or not, you have to agree that the man’s a journalistic giant in terms of breadth and scope of work, as well as influence.
Best wishes and prayers to Mr. Novak and his family through this tough time.
spmat on August 4, 2008 at 3:08 PM
Fox says it is registered to his female friend who was also injured in the accident.
carbon_footprint on August 4, 2008 at 3:15 PM
I remember laughing out loud, I mean like a maniac, when he was on some panel and they showed a clip of President Clinton saying “…and then the Congress said that, I almost gagged when they said…” and they cut to Mr Novak who mimicked “OooOOOooooh, I almost gagged!….”. I mean it was like getting a smack-down from your grandfather.
Marcus on August 4, 2008 at 3:24 PM
It has been a helluva run for Mr. Novak. May God comfort him and his family and friends. He wasn’t really the Prince of Darkness, he just played him on TV…He will be missed.
d1carter on August 4, 2008 at 3:25 PM
Prayers for Mr. Novak and his family.
darwin on August 4, 2008 at 3:40 PM
My mother died of a brain tumor as well. I hope Bob’s battle is kinder on him than it was to mom.
stonemeister on August 4, 2008 at 3:42 PM
Very sad. I wish him and his family the best. I will miss his insight and experience.
Missy on August 4, 2008 at 3:49 PM
I also want to say I was really happy last winter when I was flipping through the channels and saw the Capital Gang “reunion” on MTP…Tim Russert with his child-like glee looked as pleased as punch in getting them together. Watching Novak on CG and Crossfire was a drink for thirsty conservatives who didn’t get to see our views much on tv back in those days. I loved his unnamed sources tidbits.
deedledee on August 4, 2008 at 3:51 PM
He’s had an amazing career, very talented and he loved his work. His recent autobiography, “The Prince of Darkness” is a great read. It covers his 50 years of reporting in Washington. If you haven’t read it-do so.
Goodale on August 4, 2008 at 3:55 PM
If Bob Novak is reading this, I hope he looks at this. It could save his life.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7460743.stm
SoulGlo on August 4, 2008 at 3:59 PM
My prayers and thoughts are with Mr. Novak and his family.
nazo311 on August 4, 2008 at 4:02 PM
By any standard of achievement in a chosen career, Mr. Novak has been in the major leagues for more than 30 years.
Not many of us could say that about our working lives.
Prayers for Mr. Novak and his family.
mylegsareswollen on August 4, 2008 at 4:26 PM
Time for a “Tell All” Book, while he still has a little time……………..
………… “Scooter” Libby was not available for comment.
Seven Percent Solution on August 4, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Knee-mails have been sent. May God be with him and his family.
Neocon Peg on August 4, 2008 at 4:55 PM
Bob Novak is Margaret Thatcher on the outside, and mashed potatos on the inside.
I enjoy his curmudgeony writing and commnetary, and will miss him. He is a notable man of our times.
Entelechy on August 4, 2008 at 5:48 PM
The surgery strategy on this kind of tumor trades length of life (making it shorter) for a possible temporary improvement in quality of life, so it’s a very personal decision as to what is “better.”
When you operate on this kind of tumor, you wake up dozens and dozens of little additional tumors so that eventually the problem comes back 10-100 times worse and the patient loses ground very, very quickly. Total life span is thus shorter than if you left the original tumor alone.
My brother died of this kind of tumor four years ago. He opted for surgery because the original tumor interfered with his speech and so he urgently needed the quality of life improvement so he could interact with his family and friends. He got his speech back, but it shortened his lifetime from “maybe 12-18 months” to an actual 6 months.
landlines on August 4, 2008 at 6:05 PM
One of, if not the, greatest print journalist of our time.
Charles Martel on August 4, 2008 at 9:22 PM
The Man. Always was, always will be, The Man.
Just finished a prayer for you, Mr. Novak.
Pope Linus on August 4, 2008 at 10:18 PM
I guess Bob is #3??
Heart felt best wishes to Robert and his family.
Talon on August 4, 2008 at 11:02 PM
I hope and pray his prognosis gets better.
Kini on August 4, 2008 at 11:47 PM
Be well, Mr. Novak. I will miss you’re non-narcissistic style, so lacking by all the rest.
Western_Civ on August 5, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Comment pages: