"Recent liver surgery revealed that I have cancer that now is in other parts of my body," Carter said in the statement. "I will be rearranging my schedule as necessary so I can undergo treatment by physicians at Emory Healthcare. A more complete public statement will be made when facts are known, possibly next week."
Last week, the Carter Center disclosed that the former president had undergone elective surgery at Emory University Hospital to "remove a small mass in his liver." At the time, spokeswoman Deanna Congileo called the surgery "elective" and said Carter's "prognosis is excellent for a full recovery."
President Barack Obama released the following statement on Wednesday:
"Michelle and I send our best wishes to President Carter for a fast and full recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with Rosalynn and the entire Carter family as they face this challenge with the same grace and determination that they have shown so many times before. Jimmy, you’re as resilient as they come, and along with the rest of America, we are rooting for you."
Carter has an extensive family history with cancer, as his parents, brother, and both sisters all died of the disease.
— LIVESTRONG (@livestrong) August 12, 2015
Carter, 90, was the nation's 39th president, serving from 1977 to 1981. After leaving the White House, he founded the Carter Center in Atlanta in 1982 to promote health care, democracy and other issues around the world. He was awarded the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize.
The second-oldest living president, Carter has remained active in recent years, making public appearances and traveling. A trip to Guyana in May was cut short when Carter developed a bad cold. But concerns about his condition faded after he appeared in public two days later.
Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, live in Plains, Georgia, where they were born. They have three sons and one daughter.
