Carly Fiorina Treated For Breast Cancer

Carly Fiorina had cancer surgery this week and, although it's been about four years since she left her post as CEO of Hewlett-Packard, she never left the national spotlight.She recently chaired a Republican National Committee fundraising group and has been considered a possible contender for the U.S. Senate. Fiorina's participation in the campaign to elect U.S. Sen. John McCain to the presidency prompted Californians to encourage her to campaign against Sen. Barbara Boxer. She is said to be exploring the possibility.

She also runs Carly Fiorina Enterprises, which encompasses a charitable foundation, an advisory group, and educational and outreach services.

Fiorina's chief of staff, Deborah Bowker, said Fiorina was treated for breast cancer at Stanford Hospital on Monday and would continue with chemotherapy treatment and restrict her activities for a few months. The news was first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.

And it quickly spread through business, technology, political, and nonprofit circles because of Fiorina's power, success, and contributions in so many arenas. She has served on the boards of some of the largest and best-known companies in the country and has been bestowed with countless leadership awards and honors, including Tom Peters' choice as 2007 CEO of the Year for her work with HP.

Fiorina is a best-selling author and she has even written for InformationWeek. I'm sure my colleagues here will join me and others throughout the country and around the world in pulling for her speedy and complete recovery.

I've got my fingers crossed that the powers that be in the medical community and beyond give back to Fiorina some of what she has contributed to others so far. As her Web site so clearly states: "The world benefits when one woman is empowered."