Dr. Peter Phillips, Leader of the Opposition, Diagnosed With Cancer

April 8, 2020 | By Hopeton O’Connor Dennie |

Opposition Leader Dr. Peter Phillips has been on leave since his March 23 Abdominal surgery. He will need chemotherapy. See medical report sent.

This stage 3 colon cancer diagnosis is not rosey news for us all.

Will he be able to continue as Opposition leader? This opens a bag of worms politically. We will explore this aspect of this story later.

Dr. Peter David Phillips is 70 years old. What will be political future and his personal ambition to be Prime Minister of Jamaica. Will he step aside and opt for retirement?

We will have to wait and see.

STATEMENT BY THE MEDICAL TEAM OF THE LEADER OF THE

OPPOSITION – DR. PETER PHILLIPS

Kingston, Jamaica. April 7, 2020: Health evaluations of the Leader of the Opposition and President of the People’s National Party, Dr. Peter Phillips, M.P., completed yesterday afternoon, April 6, by UHWI Professor, Hon. Terrence Forrester, O.J., and Consultant Surgeon, Dr. Mark Newnham, have resulted in a 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.

Pathological examination of the specimen as well as staging procedures have resulted in this curable/Stage 3 diagnosis. Dr. Phillips will need further preventative treatment in the form of chemotherapy over the next few months, as an outpatient, as he continues his public duties.

Dr. Phillips’ medical and surgical teams are optimistic of complete remission based on the worldwide experience of managing this stage.

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

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is Senior National & International Correspondent for Vision Newspaper Canada.