Carter says will undergo radiation for cancerous spots on brain

Former US president Jimmy Carter said he has cancerous tumors on his brain and will begin radiation treatment Thursday.

The 90-year-old Nobel peace laureate told a press conference the finding of the four melanoma spots stemmed from a procedure in which a tumor was removed from his liver.

“They did an MRI and found that there were four spots of melanoma on my brain,” said Carter. “I get my first radiation treatment for the melanoma in my brain this afternoon.”

Carter said that as his treatment continues, it is likely doctors will find cancer elsewhere in his body.

The nation’s 39th president seemed to be in good spirits as he addressed reporters, his Georgia accent still pronounced. He smiled often.

Carter said that physically he feels well. “I feel very good. I have had no pain or debility,” Carter said.

He said that after the cancer in his brain was diagnosed, he initially thought he was nearing the end of his life, but was still at ease.

“You know, I have had a wonderful life. I have got thousands of friends and I have had an exciting and adventurous and gratifying existence,” Carter said.

“So I was surprisingly at ease, much more so than my wife was, but now I feel, you know, it’s in the hands of God and my worship and I’ll be prepared for it when it comes,” Carter said.

Carter was in the White House from 1977 to 1981.