John Horgan, premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia, on Thursday said he had throat cancer and would start undergoing radiation treatment soon, adding that he expected to make a full recovery.
Horgan, who announced last week that he would have exploratory surgery to deal with a lump in his throat, said he intended to stay in his job but would work virtually. He was operated on for bladder cancer in 2008.
Horgan, 62, became premier in 2017, leading a minority left-leaning New Democrat government for more than three years before winning a majority in September 2020.
"The pathology confirmed that the growth in my throat was cancerous. My prognosis is good and I expect to make a full recovery," he said in a statement.
"In the next couple of weeks I will need to start radiation treatment, which will conclude toward the end of December."
British Columbia's economy - the fourth largest among the 10 Canadian provinces - accounts for around 13% of national gross domestic product.
(Reporting by David Ljunggren; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
