Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks Announces He Has Prostate Cancer

U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks announced Wednesday he’s been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Brooks, a Republican from Alabama, told his colleagues about the diagnosis on the House floor. “When you are an elected official, missed votes require an explanation,” he said. “That is why I disclose this otherwise very personal, very private, and very humbling matter.” The night he was diagnosed was one of the hardest, he said. “I kept thinking about my wonderful family, ‘What do I do next,’ and ‘How do I beat this cancer?’” He added, “God works in mysterious ways.” Brooks lost a Republican primary for the Senate seat formerly held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. He came in third behind Sen. Luther Strange and Roy Moore. “Had I won, I would not have had time for my physical and PSA test,” he said. “I would not have had a prostate biopsy. I would not now know about my ‘high risk’ prostate cancer that requires immediate surgery.” After a surgery on Friday, Brooks will recover over the holiday break and then return to work in January, he said.