U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee just revealed that he has been diagnosed with a "serious but curable" form of cancer.
The revelation came in a statement that Kildee released on Friday in a Twitter thread. Here's the first message of the thread, which includes a video announcement from Kildee:
I wanted to give my constituents a quick update on my health.
A few weeks ago, after consulting with my doctors, I scheduled what I thought was a preventive scan for a swollen lymph node. The results, it turns out, were more significant.
🧵[1/5] pic.twitter.com/jiRq3Rvwhj
— Rep. Dan Kildee (@RepDanKildee) March 31, 2023
According to Kildee's statement, the situation began with a visit to the doctor to check up on a swollen lymph node.
"A few weeks ago, after consulting with my doctors, I scheduled what I thought was a preventive scan for a swollen lymph node," Kildee wrote.
Unfortunately, however, Kildee says that "the results . . . were more significant."
He continues:
After additional testing, I've been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a serious but curable form of cancer. Thankfully, I caught it very early. With early detection and great doctors, they found a very small tumor in one of my tonsils."
Kildee, in his statement, goes on to reveal the course of treatment that doctors have planned out for him.
He writes:
In a few weeks, I will have surgery to remove the cancer. The prognosis after surgery and treatment is excellent. My doctors have advised me it will take a few weeks to recover after the surgery.
Kildee goes on to state that he is "eager" to put this all behind him and "get back to work."
"But, in the meantime," he writes, "I'll be away from the office for a period of time."
Kildee concluded his statement, saying, "I am going to get through this."
The New York Post reports that, in recent months, several members of Congress have announced cancer diagnoses.
The outlet writes:
Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) announced in January that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer but has an “excellent prognosis.” Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) said in February that he “successfully” underwent surgery to remove cancerous tumors in his GI tract. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) revealed in December that he had been diagnosed with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma and would undergo chemotherapy for the “serious but curable” form of cancer.
