Former president Jimmy Carter has cancer

Susan Davis and Liz Szabo | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Cancer won't stop Jimmy Carter's work, says Andrew Young Andrew Young, who served as Ambassador to the United Nations under Jimmy Carter, said we can expect the former president to keep up the "good fight" as he undergoes treatment for cancer. It's unknown what type of cancer he has.

WASHINGTON — Former president Jimmy Carter announced Wednesday he has cancer. It was discovered during a recent liver surgery.

Carter, 90, announced the diagnosis in a short statement. He did not specify what type of cancer it is, only that it is "now in other parts of my body."

"A more complete public statement will be made when facts are known, possibly next week," he said. Carter will undergo treatment at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta.

Carter underwent surgery Aug. 3 to remove a mass in his liver.

While the mass in the former president’s liver could indicate that he has liver cancer, it’s also possible that his cancer started in a different organ and spread to the liver, said Charles Fuchs, director of the gastrointestinal cancer center at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

The liver is one of the most common places for cancers to spread. In some cases, doctors find tumors that have spread to the liver or other areas, but never isolate the original organ where the cancer began, a condition called a “cancer of unknown primary,” said Fuchs, who has no direct knowledge of Carter’s case.

In treating elderly patients, doctors consider whether patients are healthy enough to withstand therapy and whether they have other serious health problems, Fuchs said. He noted that many people in their 80s and 90s are vigorous enough to benefit from treatment. “Age itself should not be a cutoff to treatment,” Fuchs said.

Carter, the 39th president, is one of four living ex-presidents, and the second oldest after George H.W. Bush who turned 91 in June. President Obama released a statement wishing for a full recovery. "Jimmy, you're as resilient as they come, and along with the rest of America, we are rooting for you," Obama said.

Carter has maintained an active post-presidency through the Carter Center, which he and his wife Rosalynn established in 1982. It works to combat poverty, hunger, and global conflict. His efforts awarded him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He travels frequently and has generally maintained good health at his advanced age.

He is also a prolific author. His most recent book, A Full Life: Reflections at 90, was published in July.

An outpouring of support on social media followed his announcement. "We’re all wishing you the best with your upcoming treatment, Mr. President," tweeted the Atlanta Braves with a picture of Carter and his wife at a baseball game.