Rep. Dan Kildee announced on Friday that he has been diagnosed with a"serious but curable" form of cancer and will have surgery to remove a tumor in the coming weeks.
”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,” Kildee said in a statement. The six-term congressman has been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a type of head and neck cancer. His prognosis is"excellent" after surgery and treatment, he said.
“Thankfully, I caught it very early. With early detection and great doctors, they found a very small tumor in one of my tonsils,” Kildee added. “It’s never easy to hear the words you have cancer. But I know that so many other families have gone through a cancer diagnosis.”Kildee, who represents Michigan's 8th District, will be absent from Congress"for a period of time," with recovery expected to take a few weeks.
“I am going to get through this. I’m going to beat cancer. I appreciate the love of my family and wife Jennifer, as well as the help of my extraordinary staff. And to my constituents and my colleagues in Congress, thank you for your continued support,” Kildee said.
RepDanKildee Godspeed to RepDanKildee. I hope you heal and recover quickly. I’m sending prayers and support to you and your family.