Treatment for tumors causes small fractures in Maureen Reagan's spine

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Maureen Reagan, the daughter of former President Ronald Regan, has two mild compression fractures in her spinal column, her husband said Wednesday.

Dennis Revall made the announcement in a statement about his wife's treatment for malignant melanoma. She was hospitalized at St. John's Health Center in the John Wayne Cancer Institute December 11 to begin the aggressive biochemotherapy treatment for her cancer, which had been spreading at "an alarming rate" prior to the start of treatment, according to doctors.

"She's doing remarkably well," Revall said.

He said doctors believe the fractures are the result of biochemotherapy treatment for a small melanoma tumor on her spine. As the drugs worked, the tumor compressed and the brittle bones fractured slightly.

Dr. Kevin Ehrhart, the orthopedic surgeon who performed hip replacement surgery on former President Ronald Reagan January 13 at the same hospital, will be consulting Maureen on her treatment.

At this time, no surgery is necessary. Reagan is expected to begin her next cycle of treatment in the next couple of days.

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