Texas Republican Rep. Ted Poe announced Wednesday that he was recently diagnosed with leukemia.
“During the Congressional recess I will be spending time in Texas and focusing on my health,” Poe, 67, said in a statement. “I have been diagnosed with leukemia. In the interim, my staff will be available as usual to assist with any and all casework or federal matters you may have.”
Poe said that during the congressional recess — which begins Friday and lasts almost two months — he will receive treatment in Houston at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, where he said he will be treated by the “finest physicians in the world.”
House Speaker Paul Ryan tweeted his support following Poe’s announcement: “All of us are pulling and praying for you @JudgeTedPoe. You can beat this.”
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz also tweeted that Poe will be “in all our prayers,” adding, “You can and will beat this.”
Poe said in his statement that he had every intention of beating cancer, making “a full recovery” and continuing to represent his constituents in Texas.
“The Good Lord will fix this, I believe,” Poe said. “And that’s just the way it is.”