US President George W. Bush had five polyps removed during a "routine" colon cancer check on Saturday, but the White House said there was no cause for concern and that he had resumed power after a brief handover to Vice President Dick Cheney.
"None appeared worrisome," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said of the five growths that were removed during the approximately half-hour long procedure, adding that "all of them were small."
The polyps -- each described as less than 1cm in size -- are being sent for routine microscopic examination and the results are expected in 48 to 72 hours, or tomorrow at the earliest.
The results will determine the final diagnosis and recommendations for future treatment, the spokesman said.
Stanzel said the procedure was a preplanned, "routine surveillance colonoscopy" and that doctors were not surprised by what they found.
"They did indicate they were all small, some very small and I would say that is why surveillance ... has become a part of the colorectal cancer screening process," he said, adding that the procedure was scheduled "out of an abundance of caution."
The 61-year-old president, who has twice before had non-cancerous growths removed from his colon, was "in good humor and will resume his normal activities at Camp David," he said.
The president ate breakfast, played with his dogs and went for a walk after the procedure and also planned to go for a bike ride later in the afternoon, Stanzel said.
The White House released a photograph taken after the procedure showing Bush in a jacket and blue jeans walking on Camp David grounds together with his chief of staff Joshua Bolten and his dog.
Bush was sedated during the procedure, in what Stanzel described as "conscious sedation."
"Bush was asleep but responsive during the colon check," Stanzel said.
"It would be accurate to describe him as `under' but this was not a general anaesthetic," adding that the sedation, which used propofol, has a "rapid awakening effect."
After the operation, Bush spoke by phone to his wife, Laura, who is in Texas celebrating her mother's birthday, Stanzel added.
In all, Cheney was in charge of the country for two hours and five minutes.
Cheney, 66, spent that time at his residence on Maryland's eastern shore in what Stanzel described as a "routine Saturday morning."
It was only the third time in US history that a president made use of the Constitution's transfer of power to a vice president, a move that is possible under the 25th amendment.
The only other times were when Ronald Reagan underwent surgery for colon cancer on July 13, 1985, and when Bush underwent a previous colonoscopy on June 29, 2002, White House officials said.
ANGER: Unrest worsened after a taxi driver was killed by a police vehicle on Thursday, as protesters set alight government buildings across the nation Protests worsened overnight across major cities of Indonesia, far beyond the capital, Jakarta, as demonstrators defied Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s call for calm. The most serious unrest was seen in the eastern city of Makassar, while protests also unfolded in Bandung, Surabaya, Solo and Yogyakarta. By yesterday morning, crowds had dispersed in Jakarta. Troops patrolled the streets with tactical vehicles and helped civilians clear trash, although smoke was still rising in various protest sites. Three people died and five were injured in Makassar when protesters set fire to the regional parliament building during a plenary session on Friday evening, according to
‘NEO-NAZIS’: A minister described the rally as ‘spreading hate’ and ‘dividing our communities,’ adding that it had been organized and promoted by far-right groups Thousands of Australians joined anti-immigration rallies across the country yesterday that the center-left government condemned, saying they sought to spread hate and were linked to neo-Nazis. “March for Australia” rallies against immigration were held in Sydney, and other state capitals and regional centers, according to the group’s Web site. “Mass migration has torn at the bonds that held our communities together,” the Web site said. The group posted on X on Saturday that the rallies aimed to do “what the mainstream politicians never have the courage to do: demand an end to mass immigration.” The group also said it was concerned about culture,
Australia has announced an agreement with the tiny Pacific nation Nauru enabling it to send hundreds of immigrants to the barren island. The deal affects more than 220 immigrants in Australia, including some convicted of serious crimes. Australian Minister of Home Affairs Tony Burke signed the memorandum of understanding on a visit to Nauru, the government said in a statement on Friday. “It contains undertakings for the proper treatment and long-term residence of people who have no legal right to stay in Australia, to be received in Nauru,” it said. “Australia will provide funding to underpin this arrangement and support Nauru’s long-term economic
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has fired his national police chief, who gained attention for leading the separate arrests of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte on orders of the International Criminal Court and televangelist Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, who is on the FBI’s most-wanted list for alleged child sex trafficking. Philippine Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin did not cite a reason for the removal of General Nicolas Torre as head of the 232,000-member national police force, a position he was appointed to by Marcos in May and which he would have held until 2027. He was replaced by another senior police general, Jose
RSS