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Opposition Leader Dr Peter Phillips diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer

Opposition Leader Dr Peter Phillips has been diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer.

This was confirmed Tuesday afternoon by Dr Phillips’s doctors, Professor, Terrence Forrester, and Consultant Surgeon, Dr. Mark Newnham.

In a statement, the doctors said the health evaluation of Dr Phillips, who is also President of the People’s National Party (PNP), was completed on Monday (April 6), resulting in the diagnosis of “stage 3 curable colon cancer”.

“Dr. Phillips underwent complete and successful surgical removal of the cancer on March 23 and is now recovering comfortably at home,” the statement elaborated.

It added that “pathological examination of the specimen as well as staging procedures have resulted in this curable/Stage 3 diagnosis”.

The doctors say Dr. Phillips will need further preventive treatment in the form of chemotherapy over the next few months, as an outpatient, “as he continues his public duties”.

The statement affirmed the medical and surgical teams’optimism “of complete remission based on the worldwide experience of managing this stage”.

The Opposition Leader will remain on leave for the next two weeks.

Career Highlights

Peter David Phillips, Member of Parliament for St. Andrew East Central, succeeded Portia Simpson Miller as PNP Presient and Leader of the Opposition in 2017.

During the PNP's last term in government - 2012 to 2016 - he served as Finance Minister shepherding an important period of transition for the Jamaican economy, aided by a programme of support negotiated with the International Monetary Fund.

Earlier, in the administration of Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, he held three other key cabinet positions: Minister of Health, Ministry of Transport & Works, and Minister of National Security. 

Before being elected to Parliament he also served as a Senator in the early 1990s.



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