Billy Carter Has ‘Inoperable’ Cancer

ATLANTA — Billy Carter, who became a celebrity as the homespun, beer-guzzling brother of Jimmy Carter, underwent surgery for cancer Friday and the former President canceled a scheduled meeting with Pope John Paul II to rush to his bedside.

Billy Carter, 50, is suffering from cancer of the pancreas, and his attending physician, Dr. Martin York, said: “The prognosis is poor.”

“Surgery performed today to remove the cancer revealed it to be inoperable,” said York, a tumor specialist. York said some pancreatic cancer patients have lived up to three years after their illness was diagnosed “but usually it’s much shorter than that.”

Carter was admitted to Emory University Hospital three days ago suffering from jaundice. Tests revealed an obstruction in the bile duct that caused the jaundice, hospital spokeswoman Judy Smith said.

“A biopsy revealed he had cancer of the pancreas. Surgery was performed today (Friday) to remove the cancer and the doctors discovered that it is inoperable. Surgical procedures were performed to relieve the symptons,” she said, “and his family has been informed of this decision.

“He tolerated the surgery well, and he’s recovering in the intensive-care unit.”