Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
January 25, 1997
STATEMENT FROM THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
Further medical tests on Archbishop Desmond Tutu have revealed no (repeat no) evidence that cancer has spread beyond his prostate gland.
Archbishop Tutu this week underwent a CAT scan, a bone scan and a chest X-ray. His doctor said afterwards the tests indicated that the cancer was localised only in the prostate itself.
The archbishop and a panel of medical experts at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town will be considering further options for treatment within the next month. The options include further surgery, radiotherapy or hormone treatment, or a combination of some of these.
His doctor said the fact the tests had shown no spread of cancer beyond the prostate indicated that it had been discovered at an early stage. This implied a better prognosis than would have been the case had it spread.
Archbishop Tutu said today: "Leah, my family and I would like to say thank you very much to all those who have upheld us with so much loving and praying."
Inquiries: John Allen, 082- 452-7859