Bell receives good news about stomach tumor from doctors
By John Jennings Daily News Staff
Rep. Paul Bell, who required a trip home from Turkey due to internal bleeding from a stomach tumor, has received good news concerning his condition.
Following a PET scan on Wednesday, doctors informed Bell that the tumor in his stomach had not spread.
“I got two pieces of good news Wednesday,” Bell said this morning from Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. “The cancer has not spread to the lymphatic system, and they will be able to remove it intact.”
Bell said he will undergo surgery Friday to remove most of his stomach, containing the tumor. The large intestine would then be extended and attached to the esophagus, with the intestine essentially performing the function of the stomach. Bell said he was concerned with receiving the publicity when there are so many others also suffering from cancer.
“There are so many people out there with cancer. Why should I be the one to get the headlines?” Bell asked. “I hope and pray for each of them. My heart goes out to them. We all have a lot to go through.”
Bell was on a diplomatic tour of Turkey last week when he passed out due to internal bleeding, and required evacuation by air ambulance through Munich, Germany. He has been a patient at Iowa Methodist Medical Center since Sunday.
Bell said he would remain at Methodist for about ten days following the surgery.
John Jennings can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 425 or via e-mail at jjennings@newtondailynews.com.
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