Jimmy Carter begins treatment for brain cancer

The former US president announced at a press conference on Thursday that he has four small spots of cancer on his brain and would immediately commence with radiation treatment and cut back on his responsibilities at the Carter Center. Saying he was "at ease with whatever comes," the ex-president appeared positive and upbeat as he readied himself for "a new adventure."

With his first treatment set for Thursday afternoon, Carter explained that earlier in August, doctors removed a piece of his liver containing a tumor. Though they could not detect where the cancer originated, they determined it was melanoma, which first develops in the skin 98 percent of the time. After an MRI, the doctors spotted the cancerous areas on his brain.

"I just thought I had a few weeks left, but I was surprisingly at ease. I've had a wonderful life," said the 90-year-old. "It's in God's hands. I'll be prepared for anything that comes."

Carter said that former presidents George W. and George H.W. Bush had called him on Wednesday, to add to his well-wishes from President Barack Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Secretary of State John Kerry.

He joked that it was "the first time they've called me in a long time."

Defining the post-presidency

Carter's health has been closely watched since he cut short an election monitoring trip to Guyana in May, which he later said was because of a bad cold. The Carter Center announced on August 3 that the president had a mass removed from his liver, and nine days later Carter confirmed that he had cancer.

The 39th President of the United States emerged as an almost unknown political entity to defeat incumbent Gerald Ford in 1976. But a series of foreign policy crises, such as the hostage crisis in Iran, saw his reelection bid crushed by Ronald Reagan.

Following his election defeat, the Georgia native proceeded to redefine his career through humanitarian work, particularly through the Carter Center, focusing on global issues such as health care and democracy. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

es/kms (AP, Reuters)