Nixon ‘Progressing Well’ After Surgery for Cancer

Former President Richard M. Nixon went to a New York City hospital Thursday for a change of bandages and follow-up examination after surgery for removal of a cancerous tumor behind his left ear.

“Mr. Nixon is progressing very well and is in good spirits,” said Dr. Philip Prioleau of New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. “I saw him just a bit earlier today for a change in dressings and examination.”

Four Hours of Surgery

Prioleau removed the inch-in-diameter tumor during four hours of surgery a week ago Thursday. Prioleau said the cancer did not threaten the former President’s life.

The doctor said he removed a piece of skin from Nixon’s left shoulder and grafted it over the area where the tumor was removed.

Prioleau said that, although the cancer was totally removed, bleeding had persisted and he persuaded Nixon not to go to Washington for a dinner in his honor Wednesday night at the Chinese Embassy.

“He (Nixon) has been on Coumadin (a blood thinner used in the treatment of phlebitis) for many years and we had stopped it for the surgery,” Prioleau said. “When we resumed, the wound began to bleed.”

Prioleau had swathed Nixon’s head in bandages on Wednesday because of the bleeding.

“Mr. Nixon wanted very badly to attend this dinner,” Prioleau said, “But I was insistent and told him he should not risk aggravating the condition.”

Cancer ‘Very Mild’

Prioleau emphasized that the form of cancer involved--basal cell carcinoma--was “very mild” but said, “Mr. Nixon will be coming in to see us frequently.”

Basal cell carcinoma was the type of cancerous growth removed from President Reagan’s nose last week.

Nixon suffered a severe attack of phlebitis in 1974 and more recently has suffered from shingles, a nerve malady, on his back.