House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, the congressman said Tuesday.
“After a few days of not feeling like myself this past week, I had some blood work done,” Scalise tweeted. “The results uncovered some irregularities and after undergoing additional tests, I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a very treatable blood cancer.”
According to the American Cancer Society, multiple myeloma has about a 60 percent five-year relative survival rate. This means that a patient with that cancer is about 60 percent as likely as people without multiple myeloma to live for five years after diagnosis.
ADVERTISEMENT
Scalise, 57, appeared to catch an early diagnosis, according to his statement.
“I am incredibly grateful we were able to detect this early and that this cancer is treatable,” he said.
The Republican said he has already started treatment and will continue “for the next several months.” During that time, he said he plans to keep serving in Congress.
“I expect to work through this period and intend to return to Washington continuing my work as a Majority Leader and serving the people of Louisiana’s First Congressional District,” he said.
Multiple myeloma affects a person’s plasma blood cells, potentially causing bone pain, fatigue and other symptoms. There’s no clear cause or prevention for this type of cancer, but aging men with a family history of multiple myeloma are at the highest risk.
Scalise’s peers were quick to express their support for their fellow lawmaker. House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik lauded him as a “fighter” who “has beaten so many unbeatable odds.”
“There is no stronger fighter than @SteveScaliseSteve. Steve is as tough and kind as they come, and he has beaten so many unbeatable odds,” Stefanik said in a tweet. “The Legend from Louisiana is beloved by his colleagues and America and we know he will fight this next battle with that same resolve. We are proud to stand by to support Steve and his family as they embrace strength and faith in this next challenge.”
Others have already criticized Scalise for his repeated votes against expanding federal health-care options.
“Steve Scalise has worked so hard against people having access to affordable healthcare that it’s got to be really disappointing to him that he’ll be forced to receive world-class medical care at the taxpayers’ expense,” one Twitter user joked.
In 2017, Scalise was one of six people shot during a practice for the annual Congressional Baseball Game in Alexandria, Virginia. Scalise was shot in the hip and was airlifted to a Washington, D.C., hospital for emergency surgery, and was comatose for three days before eventually recovering.
