Like a lot of men, Maine Sen. Angus King will again be undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among American men, aside from skin cancer, and recurrence is not uncommon. Sen. King announced that he is beginning an 8-week round of radiation therapy for recurring prostate cancer — but made it very clear that the treatment will not affect his ability to serve on the Senate.
Sen. King was originally diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2015. He had his prostate gland removed and had been cancer-free since then. However, he decided to resume treatment when his doctors noticed a slightly elevated PSA level, according to a statement from his office. Most doctors will recommend men get regular screenings every six months after treatment, even if the prostate is removed.
Read MoreSen. King also said in his statement that his doctors assured him, he will not have to miss a day of work. “This week, I completed the first of an 8-week round of radiation to treat some small, localized, residual prostate cancer,” Sen. King’s statement reads. “This is a 5-day-a-week radiation treatment that will take about 20 minutes each morning until mid-March. What it means for my work in the Senate? Absolutely nothing. I have been assured by my doctors, as recently as this morning, that I will remain healthy through my current Senate term and beyond.”
Sen. King was elected to a second six-year Senate term this November.
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