Michael Caputo, a top spokesman for the Health and Human Services Department who recently went on medical leave amid controversy, revealed he was diagnosed with cancer in his head and neck.

In a statement on Thursday, New York Assemblyman David DiPietro, acting as Caputo’s spokesman, said the health official has “squamous cell carcinoma, a metastatic head and neck cancer which originated in his throat.” Caputo was diagnosed last week after undergoing surgery at the National Cancer Institute for a lump on his neck.

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