COKE'S TOP OFFICER IN CRITICAL CONDITION.Byline: Tara Meyer Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. Coca-Cola chairman Roberto C. Goizueta was in critical condition Monday with a throat infection related to recent treatments for lung cancer lung cancer, cancer that originates in the tissues of the lungs. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States in both men and women. Like other cancers, lung cancer occurs after repeated insults to the genetic material of the cell. . The 65-year-old Goizueta, who was in intensive care at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, will miss a board meeting Thursday for the first time since he became chairman of the soft drink giant 16 years ago. ``He's seriously ill,'' said Randy Donaldson, a Coca-Cola spokesman. ``He did not feel like he would be there.'' Goizueta was hospitalized Sept. 6 after being diagnosed with cancer and began chemotherapy and radiation treatments. He was released from Emory on Sept. 22 and continued the regimen, but was readmitted to the hospital Oct. 7 with a throat infection. Chemotherapy weakens the immune system immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. , making the throat infection more dangerous. Goizueta asked James Williams, chairman of the board's finance committee, to chair the board meeting. He also asked M. Douglas Ivester, Coke's president and chief operating officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. , to stand in for him at employee briefings after the board meeting. Coca-Cola stock closed down 37-1/2 cents at $61.31-1/4 on Monday on the New York Stock Exchange New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) World's largest marketplace for securities. The exchange began as an informal meeting of 24 men in 1792 on what is now Wall Street in New York City. . |
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