Jimmy Carter 'perfectly at ease with whatever comes' in cancer treatment

Former President Jimmy Carter announced Thursday that his cancer has spread to 4 spots of melanoma on the brain, but that he’s “perfectly at ease with whatever comes” as he begins treatment.

Candor and bravery

A few notable quotes from Jimmy Carter’s press conference on Thursday, Aug. 20:

"I'm ready for anything and looking forward to a new adventure.”

“I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes. I do have a deep religious faith, which I’m very grateful for.”

"I just thought I had a few weeks left, but I was surprisingly at ease. I've had a wonderful life. It's in God's hands. I'll be prepared for anything that comes."

Timeline

May - Carter learned he had a liver spot.

Aug. 3 - Carter announced he had surgery to remove a small mass from his liver.

Aug. 13 - Carter revealed he had cancer that had spread to other parts of his body -- a discovery made his liver operation.

Aug. 20 - Carter announced he will begin treatment immediately for melanoma on his brain. The cancer was first discovered in a biopsy of the mass removed from his liver. An MRI that afternoon showed it had spread to 4 small spots on his brain.

How he’s feeling

Carter said he’s been dealing with "very slight" pain, but hasn't felt weak.

Cutting back on work

Carter said he will cut back on work at the Carter Center, which he and his wife, Rosalynn, had discussed for several years.

"We thought about this when I was 80. We thought about it again when I was 85. We thought about it again when I was 90,” Carter said. “So this is a propitious time I think for us to carry out our long-delayed plans."