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American Morning
San Diego Padres President Discusses Going Before Congressional Committee on Cancer
Aired June 21, 2001 - 09:25 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: A congressional committee will also be hearing from the president of the San Diego Padres, cancer survivor Larry Lucchino. He joins us live from Washington, before he goes before this committee.
Larry, good morning. Thanks for joining us.
LARRY LUCCHINO, LYMPHOMA SURVIVOR: Good morning. You're very welcome.
KAGAN: You have fought and survive two types of cancer, different than Mrs. Ferraro, yet you have a similar message for Congress this morning.
LUCCHINO: I do indeed. We are focusing on blood cancers today. In my case, it was lymphoma. In my case, we are talking about myeloma, which is Geraldine Ferraro's condition, and leukemia. These blood cancers are too little recognized and too little focused on, so we are really pleased that the Senate is focusing on more funding for cancer research, particularly the blood cancers.
KAGAN: And not just getting money, but getting drugs and treatments out there more quickly. You were the benefit of an early treatment, as I understand it, as you were fighting your lymphoma.
LUCCHINO: I did. I had the benefit of an autologous bone marrow transplant, which was quite experimental 16 years ago, when I had it. It has now become nearly standard treatment around the country for people with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, and it evidences the progress that has been made, from research to treatment.
KAGAN: I notice the difference in the terminology of people who are fighting cancer, in that there's a certain sense that you can live with cancer, that cancer isn't always a terminal disease. How has that affected your life?
LUCCHINO: I, certainly, began with that same perception, that somehow I was a victim. I'm now pleased to be described as a survivor. My lymphoma was, as I said, 16 years ago, and my treatment was 16 and 15 years ago, and I see it as my duty and privilege to be here and talk about this in front of the senators today, so that we can focus their attention and the attention of the American public on the blood cancers, because treatment and essential research have got to move along more quickly.
KAGAN: I also understand you fought prostate cancer, as well.
LUCCHINO: I did. I had that experience in the late 1990s. Once again, tremendous advances are being made in the prostate cancer field as well.
KAGAN: How are you doing today? How's your health today?
LUCCHINO: I'm doing fine -- knock on wood. I just wish our baseball team would win a few more games.
KAGAN: I was going to mention that Larry -- bottom of the National League West.
LUCCHINO: That's true, but if we get a few more dollars appropriated for blood cancer research, it will be a good day.
KAGAN: It will be a good day, proving that miracles can happen. There still might be hope for the Pads there in San Diego.
LUCCHINO: Thank you.
KAGAN: I know you're hosting the giants today. Good luck with that game, and even more importantly, good luck in your fight against cancer and fighting for cancer research as well.
LUCCHINO: Thank you. Thank you very much.
KAGAN: Larry Lucchino, president of the San Diego Padres, thanks for joining us this morning from Capitol Hill.
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