Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Fires Back at Critics of His Schedule, Says He Was With His Wife, Casey, 41, While She Received Treatment for Breast Cancer

"When people try to say that that's a vacation I think anyone that's gone through those (cancer) treatments would not agree that chemotherapy is a vacation," the governor said on Monday's Hannity.

"And so my wife has had to go through that. I've accompanied her to all those treatments, trying to be a supportive husband, so that's what we were doing on the one day where I didn't have anything on my public calendar because it is a private matter."

Gov. DeSantis publicly announced in October that his wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer. The family has not shared the type and stage of her breast cancer.

"I can tell you when you have people like that congresswoman (Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.) who ripped Florida because we are open, who say you need lockdown policies and then the first chance they get they come running down to my state. If I had a dollar for every lockdown politician that's done that over the last two years, I would be awfully wealthy right now," the governor concluded.

The governor's remarks were made on the heels of a comment that Rep. Ocasio-Cortez posted to Twitter just before the new year.

Hasn't Gov. DeSantis been inexplicably missing for like 2 weeks?

If he's around, I would be happy to say hello. His social media team seems to have been posting old photos for weeks.

In the meantime, perhaps I could help with local organizing. Folks are quite receptive here 🙂 https://t.co/LmmqT8eLDh

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 31, 2021

"Hasn't Gov. DeSantis been inexplicably missing for like 2 weeks," Rep. Ocasio-Cortez posted to Twitter during her visit to Florida. "If he's around, I would be happy to say hello. His social media team seems to have been posting old photos for weeks."

Casey DeSantis' Breast Cancer Battle

"I am saddened to report that Florida's esteemed First Lady and my beloved wife has been diagnosed with breast cancer," Gov. DeSantis said in a prepared statement in October. "As the mother of three young children, Casey is the centerpiece of our family and has made an impact on the lives of countless Floridians through her initiatives as First Lady."

In December, Casey DeSantis spoke publicly for the first time about her diagnosis, revealing some new details about the timeline of her diagnosis.

She told a crowd gathered at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla., that she did not experience any symptoms initially, but a vague sense of uneasiness drove her to schedule a visit with her OB-GYN.

Her doctor did not see any cause for concern, but Casey DeSantis could not shake her suspicion. One month later, she called again to request a mammogram. This time, her concerns were confirmed she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

She ended her announcement with a message of hope: "Just never give up. Don't quit. Just keep fighting. And just because you get some bad news doesn't mean you need to crawl into a hole and a tunnel and pull the wool over your head get out and do as much as you humanly can and try to make a difference and do what you know in your heart is right."

Casey DeSantis is 41 years old. That is relatively young to receive a breast cancer diagnosis, considering organizations like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Cancer Society recommend women start getting yearly mammograms when they turn 45 years old. Women ages 45 to 54 should get a mammogram every year.

Aggressive Breast Cancer in Young Women

Breast cancer mostly occurs in older women, but it is possible for women under the age of 45 like Casey DeSantis to be diagnosed. About 9% of all new breast cancer cases in the U.S. are found in women younger than 45.

But in some ways, a diagnosis for a younger woman can often be even more devastating, Dr. Ann Partridge, an oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, tells SurvivorNet during a previous interview. This is because the cancer is likely to be a more aggressive form of the disease and at an advanced stage, as screening for younger women is not standard.

Relationships & Cancer: When the One You Love is Sick

Gov. DeSantis being there to support his wife through such a difficult time we all know chemotherapy is incredibly difficult is something every spouse should do if they are able. It is incredibly important for cancer patients to have a strong support system when going through what is most likely one of the hardest times of their lives, and just being there can do wonders.

Cancer is also an experience that can surely take an emotional toll on both the patient and the spouse, as well as their relationship.

Jill Kargman on Relationships and Cancer

This is something actress and melanoma survivor Jill Kargman can attest to as cancer was a true test of her relationship's strength. In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Kargman says the disease "is a great way to find out if you're with the love of your life or a shithead."

"I think it presses the fast-forward button on getting to the bottom of that answer, because a lot of people in middle age are kind of at a crossroads, waiting for their kids to fly the coop," Kargman says. "I think if you're with someone who is not supportive and kind of emotionally checked out or doesn't tell you you're still beautiful with that, this might not be your person."

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