Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine, will undergo surgery Friday to remove prostate cancer, but he says the diagnosis does not affect his plans to run for re-election in 2018.
“I’m looking forward to a full recovery and to continuing my service in the Senate,” King said. “And no, this does not my affect my intention to run for re-election, except my poor little prostate won’t be along for the ride.”
A statement released Monday by King’s office said although the Senator had no symptoms, doctors found the cancer early in a routine medical exam. In April, King’s bloodwork showed certain abnormalities, and after a biopsy the diagnosis was confirmed.
A month’s worth of body scans showed no signs of the cancer spreading outside the prostate area.
Dr. Douglas M. Dahl will perform the surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
“It’s a story we hear again and again — early detection saves lives. In this case, the story is mine. Not once, but twice,” King said. He was also diagnosed with malignant melanoma 40 years ago according to the press release.
Prostate cancer affects approximately one in seven men and is the most common type of cancer among American men after skin cancer according to the American Cancer Society.
King first delivered the news to his family in May, and announced it to his staff Monday on a conference call according to the statement.
