Ex-Pa. Sen. Arlen Specter seriously ill, according to friends

August 28, 2012 at 11:42a.m.

PHILADELPHIA - Arlen Specter has been hospitalized with a serious illness, friends of the former longtime U.S. senator have confirmed. One Specter friend asked people to keep him in thoughts and prayers.

Specter, 82, announced in 2005 that he had Hodgkin’s disease, for which he underwent chemotherapy. He was treated again in 2008, after the disease returned.

Friends declined to comment Monday afternoon on the nature of Specter’s hospitalization.

“I’m sorry I can’t provide any information to that effect, you’ll have to ask somebody else,” replied a woman who answered the phone at Specter’s office Monday when asked to confirm that Specter was in the hospital.

Specter’s son, attorney Shanin Specter, promptly returned an email Monday, but declined to comment for this report.