NEW YORK — ABC-TV News anchor Peter Jennings has the best wishes of his Canadian counterparts who have expressed confidence that if anyone can beat lung cancer, he will.

Global TV's Kevin Newman, who in the 1990s served as a substitute anchor for Jennings at ABC south of the border, said his first reaction to Jennings' affliction was "That's just terrible!"

But Newman says Jennings is a very strong guy with a will of steel.

"And if anybody can drive cancer back with will, Peter can do that," he said. "Physically, he's in great shape . . . so his body will be an ally in his fight."

Newman added, however, that your best ally is your state of mind and Jennings is the kind of person who keeps at something until he gets it right.

Newman, CTV's Lloyd Robertson and CBC's Peter Mansbridge are all in Rome overseeing their own network coverage of the papal funeral.

Mansbridge said his thoughts were with Jennings and that he had sent his best.

"The one thing about Peter is that he always faces challenges head-on and with all his energies -- I'm convinced he will with this one, too."

CTV veteran Lloyd Robertson said he was shocked and saddened by the news of Jennings' health problems.

"I've known him as a fellow broadcaster and friend for 40 years and I also know he will battle this demon with his usual tenacity.

"All of us at CTV News, where Peter worked many years ago, feel a special bond with him and will be rooting for his speedy recovery."

Newman says that Jennings has a unique opportunity "to show what you are able to do while battling cancer and what you're not able to do."

"Obviously he will have a platform in a way that Wendy has at the CBC as well," Newman says.

The CBC's Wendy Mesley, who has been subbing for Mansbridge on The National during his current Rome assignment, announced in January that she is battling breast cancer. Two other Canadian TV news personalities, Mark Dailey of Toronto's Citytv and Max Keeping of CTV Ottawa affiliate CJOH-TV have turned their fights with prostate cancer into encouraging on-air stories.

With his very visible position on television each night, Jennings could be an inspiration for many Americans going through a similar fight, agreed Dr. David Johnson, chief of oncology and hematology at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

"I think it sets the right example," Johnson said. "I think it says you shouldn't stop your life if you have cancer. It may take your life, but you shouldn't let it control your life."

The Toronto-born, Ottawa-raised Jennings, who begins chemotherapy treatment next week, said he intends to keep anchoring the evening news. But he acknowledged there will be days when he's not up to it.

Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in the United States, and roughly four out of five people diagnosed with the disease die within five years, said Dr. Cliff Connery, chief of thoracic surgery at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan. Doctors say most lung cancer patients can continue to work throughout treatment, but need flexibility to take it easy on days they are not feeling well.

For two decades Jennings, NBC's Tom Brokaw and CBS's Dan Rather were the American network anchors who were always there. But now, with almost blinding speed, that era is over.

Brokaw left last November, replaced by Brian Williams. Embattled Dan Rather said goodbye to the evening news last month. And Jennings, who had looked forward to a period as the business' elder statesman, now is fighting for his health.

Jennings began his broadcasting career in Canada. At the age of nine he hosted his own weekly children's show on CBC Radio. His father Charles had been a famous radio broadcaster and later an executive at CBC.

In 1962 Jennings became co-anchor of CTV's national newscast and two years later moved to New York to join ABC-TV News. After a brief period as a very youthful anchor he decided to return to the field as a foreign correspondent to get more seasoning. He became an ABC anchor again in 1983.

Jennings became a U.S. citizen in 2003 but still retained his Canadian citizenship.