Sprint Chairman Has Lymphoma

Sprint Corp. said Monday that its chairman and chief executive, William Esrey, has lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system, but he will keep his day-to-day responsibilities at the No. 3 U.S. long-distance telephone company and is expected to make a full recovery.

Doctors at Duke University Medical Center, where the illness was diagnosed, informed Esrey that the lymphoma was considered highly treatable and they anticipated a full recovery, the company said.

The usual course of treatment involves several hours one day every three to four weeks, which will allow Esrey to continue to handle his full responsibilities.

Esrey, 62, joined Sprint, then known as United Telecommunications Inc., in 1980 as executive vice president of corporate planning. He became chief executive in 1985 and added the title of chairman in 1990.

The news was released after the close of markets. Shares of Sprint’s main FON Group, which includes its local and long-distance telephone and data operations, fell 30 cents, or 2.3%, to $12.90 on the New York Stock Exchange. Shares of Sprint PCS, its wireless telephone arm, closed at $3.60, down 6 cents.

Last month, the Overland Park, Kan.-based company said third-quarter revenue rose 3% to $6.79 billion. The company has struggled with a drop in wireless telephone subscribers and lower voice telephone revenue and call volume, but it has made progress in cutting costs and reducing its debt.