With humor and honesty, Carter talks about his cancer

Wearing blue jeans and a blazer, Carter spoke with good humor and unsparing honesty, revealing that he had kept suspicions of cancer from his wife, Rosalynn, for weeks until the diagnosis was confirmed in June.

Carter said he thought the cancer was only in his liver and was removed with surgery on Aug. 3, but an MRI exam that same afternoon showed the spots on his brain.

The former president didn't discuss his long-term prognosis, but said he will cut back dramatically on his humanitarian work while following the orders of a team that includes the world's best "cancer-treaters."

Said Jason Carter: "I don't think anybody who knows him was surprised to see him sitting here saying, 'I'm going to be completely honest and transparent about what's going on with me and I'm going to face it,' with this deep and abiding faith and courage and analytical brain and all those other aspects of him that have led him to lead this incredibly giant human life."

Carter opened by thanking his wife of 69 years, who sat quietly in the front row, never reaching for the tissues placed near her chair.

"First time they've called me in a long time," he added playfully.

Carter, the nation's 39th president, served in submarines in the Navy and spent years as a peanut farmer before running for office, becoming a state senator and Georgia governor.

On Thursday, Carter said he remains proud of what he accomplished as president, but is more gratified by his humanitarian work since then, which earned him a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.