U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., announced that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer last month, according to a statement released on Thursday.
“Last month, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer,” the senator said in the statement. “While this news came as a shock, I can report that I have an excellent prognosis, as well as the benefit of exceptional medical care and the unwavering support of my family. In the coming months I will undergo surgery, after which I am expected to make a full recovery. I am confident that my recommended course of treatment will allow me to continue my service in the 118th Congress with minimal disruption, and I look forward to the work ahead.”
The 62-year-old Scranton native was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006, and had previously served terms as Pennsylvania’s treasurer and auditor general. Casey served on four committees during the last congressional session, including the Select Committee on Intelligence and the Committee on Finance.
Casey is the first Democratic senator from Pennsylvania to win three terms following his reelection in the 2018 midterms. His current term is set to end in 2025.
Prostate cancer is a cancer that occurs in the prostate — a walnut-sized gland located below the bladder that’s part of the male reproductive system. It’s among the most common types of cancer among men — 1 in 8 will be diagnosed with it in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society.
Treatment varies, depending on the type of prostate cancer. Slow-growing forms may be monitored without significant health consequences for years. More aggressive forms that quickly spread beyond the prostate may require surgery, radiation or other treatments. Prostate cancer is most effectively treated if identified early, before it has spread.
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(Philadelphia Inquirer staff writer Sarah Gantz contributed to this report.)
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