Ebert: Cancer returns, taking 'leave of presence'

[April 03, 2013]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Film critic Roger Ebert says he has cancer again and is scaling back his movie reviews while undergoing radiation.

In a blog post, the 70-year-old said he'll take a "leave of presence."

The veteran critic has previously battled cancer in his thyroid and salivary glands and lost the ability to speak and eat after surgery.

In a lengthy essay posted late Tuesday, Ebert says the latest cancer was discovered after a "painful fracture" that made it difficult for him to walk. The Pulitzer Prize winner was hospitalized late last year with a hip fracture.

Ebert writes he's "not going away." Instead, he'll write select movie reviews while leaving the rest of the work to a team of writers.

He also plans to spend time writing about his own health challenges.

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Online:

Roger Ebert's Journal:
http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/
2013/04/a_leave_of_presense.html

[Associated Press]

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