Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Inside Justice Ginsburg's Long Battle With Pancreatic Cancer
The name Ruth Bader Ginsburg became almost synonymous with strength and stamina as she rose to prominence in judicial and feminist circles throughout her long career. Famously nicknamed the Notorious RBG and known for her grueling fitness regimen, the late Supreme Court justice also struggled with cancer and other health issues for the better part of her time on the bench 鈥 culminating with her death on Sept. 18 at the age of 87 of complications from metastatic pancreatic cancer. (Ducharme, 9/18)
The pancreatic cancer that claimed Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday at the age of 87 was the final chapter in a long battle with the disease. Her final year on the bench was punctuated with medical issues, but she publicly remained upbeat and optimistic through a series of infections, a fall that broke several ribs and the recurrence of cancer. As recently as July she said she was "encouraged by the success of my current treatment." (Baragona, 9/18)
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 87, only the second woman ever appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, died Sept. 18.Over the last 2 decades, Ginsburg also became a high-profile example of a person able to live and work while receiving cancer treatment. She received diagnoses with three types of cancer over the last 20 years but was able to stay and work on the Supreme Court. (Citroner, 9/21)
Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday evening,聽had overcome four bouts with pancreatic, lung and colon cancer dating back two decades. ... "It's fairly uncommon to have so many cancers successfully treated and then to be able to live through them, certainly as long as she did 鈥 and to tolerate the treatment of these in her 80s, it's a testament to her," said Dr. Kiran Turaga, director of the Surgical Gastrointestinal Cancer Program at the University of Chicago Medicine. (Hauck, 9/19)
Ginsburg passed due to complications from metastatic pancreatic cancer, the Court confirmed. But this wasn鈥檛 her only bout with the disease. Ginsburg鈥檚 first cancer diagnosis actually happened by accident 21 years ago, six years after she was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Clinton. Here鈥檚 everything you need to know about her cancer journey. (Hruetic, 9/19)
The timing of Ginsburg鈥檚 death on Friday at 87, from complications of a recurrence of pancreatic cancer, and President Trump鈥檚 determination to quickly confirm a successor, have prompted a gnawing question among many liberals: Why didn鈥檛 Ginsburg resign years earlier, when President Barack Obama could have named a nominee for her seat? Ginsburg鈥檚 love for what she called her 鈥済ood job鈥 鈥 serving as a Supreme Court justice 鈥 and her focus on the representation of women help explain her decision to stay. The epic political battle over confirmation could affect the results of the November election and change the trajectory of American law for decades. (Bazelon, 9/21)
Also 鈥
The deadly disease has now taken two of America's political icons, including the late US Democratic Representative John Lewis, in the last three months, and thousands more Americans as one of the deadlier cancers in the country. There are two types of pancreatic cancer: exocrine tumors and endocrine tumors. There are currently no general screening tools for pancreatic cancer, and there are often no symptoms in the early stages, when the tumor would be most treatable. The cancer is often discovered at more advanced stages, sometimes when it has spread to other organs, known as metastasis. (Mena and Mascarenhas, 9/19)