Archbishop Responds To Therapy

Fri., Jan. 3, 1997

From Staff And Wire Reports

A blood and bone-marrow biopsy indicates Roman Catholic Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy is responding positively to his treatment for leukemia, the archdiocese said Thursday.

The biopsy Dec. 24 showed no evidence of leukemic cells. Further biopsies will be performed to monitor his condition and ensure that the treatment plan remains effective, the Seattle archdiocese said in a news release.

“Dr. David White, the archbishop’s hematologist, is encouraged by the archbishop’s progress, and is allowing the archbishop to take brief furloughs from the hospital,” the release said.

The archbishop’s bone marrow needs to continue rebuilding healthy blood cells over a sustained period of weeks before the disease can be considered in remission, White was quoted as saying.

“However, the progress he has made to date gives every indication that remission is within the realm of possibility,” the release said.

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