Roger Ebert hospitalized after cancer-related surgery By Josh Noel
Tribune staff reporter
July 3, 2006, 12:05 AM CDT
Pulitzer Prize-winning movie critic Roger Ebert was in serious but stable condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital on Sunday afternoon following emergency surgery related to an earlier cancer-related procedure.
Ebert had surgery June 16 after a tumor from salivary cancer recurred, said his employer, WLS-Ch. 7 in information approved by Ebert's family.
On Sunday, doctors repaired a burst blood vessel, a complication from the earlier surgery, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Ebert, a nationally syndicated writer and television host of the weekly movie review show "Ebert and Roeper," is also employed by the Sun-Times.
The critic's vital signs appeared good after the surgery, according to the report.
"Roger is a fighter, and I have every confidence and hope that he has thousands of movie reviews ahead of him," Roeper told the Sun-Times, where he also works. "Led of course by his wife, Chaz, he has an amazing circle of family and friends surrounding him with love and support. I also want to express gratitude to the many fans across the country who have already sent their best wishes."
Ebert, 64, has had three previous cancer surgeries—once in 2002 to remove a malignant tumor on his thyroid gland and twice on his salivary gland the next year.
Northwestern hospital spokeswoman Tory Neff said no further information is available.
"Roger had bravely and successfully battled this stuff before and we hope and expect he does the same this time out," Sun-Times Editor in Chief John Barron said Sunday.
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