Former President Jimmy Carter Reveals He Has Cancer

Former President Jimmy Carter said Wednesday that recent liver surgery revealed that cancer has spread to other parts of his body.

Carter, 90, had undergone surgery Aug. 3 after a small mass was found on his liver. In a statement posted on the Carter Center website, Carter said he would begin treatment, but he did not specify what that would entail or the extent of the cancer.

However, The Associated Press reported that a Carter Center spokeswoman said his "prognosis is excellent for a full recovery."

Here’s the complete text of Carter’s statement Wednesday.

Recent liver surgery revealed that I have cancer that now is in other parts of my body. I will be rearranging my schedule as necessary so I can undergo treatment by physicians at Emory Healthcare. A more complete public statement will be made when facts are known, possibly next week.

Carter was elected the 39

U.S. president in 1976, defeating Gerald Ford. He lost his re-election effort to Ronald Reagan in 1980.

He has been an outspoken advocate for progressive issues, including gender and race equality. He also has written extensively on religion and peace issues.

Listen to Carter’s 2014 interview with KUOW in Seattle about women's rights

In general, Carter has been healthy since leaving office. He has traveled extensively in support of The Carter Center, which focuses on human rights and health issues. This year, he has traveled to Palestine, Russia and Guyana.

In a 2013 interview with the Washington Post, he said he had continued running until knee problems forced him to stop at age 80. He now has two artificial knees. On aging, he told the Post that he knew that health issues would eventually restrict his activities.

“I know it will come and I am prepared for it,” he told the Post.

Correction, 6:30 a.m., 8/13/2015: An earlier version of this report misstated the years Jimmy Carter was elected president and lost his re-election bid.