WASHINGTON -- Former President Jimmy Carter announced on Wednesday that he has cancer, NBC reported.
The 39th president said that the cancer was discovered during recent liver surgery and that it was "now in other parts of my body." He also said that he would rearrange his schedule to receive treatment.
Carter, 90, underwent surgery earlier this month to remove a small mass in his liver.
"His operation proceeded without issues, and the prognosis is excellent for a full recovery," the Carter Center said in a statement after the surgery.
While Carter did not reveal what kind of cancer he has, there is a history of pancreatic cancer in his family. Carter's father and three siblings all died of the illness, and his mother had it as well, the former president told The New York Times in 2007.
President Barack Obama issued a statement later Wednesday, wishing Carter a speedy recovery.
Michelle and I send our best wishes to President Carter for a fast and full recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with Rosalynn and the entire Carter family as they face this challenge with the same grace and determination that they have shown so many times before. Jimmy, you're as resilient as they come, and along with the rest of America, we are rooting for you.
Earlier On HuffPost:
Carter joined HuffPost's All Together podcast in a conversation about the religious right, his love for his wife and the importance of living life fully right now.
This piece has been updated to include a statement from President Barack Obama.