Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The 60-year-old senator announced on Monday that he will be having surgery next week to treat the cancer. He is expected to make “a full recovery” because the cancer was discovered “relatively early,” he said in a statement.
NEW ADVICE ON PROSTATE CANCER SCREENING: LEAVE IT UP TO DOCTORS AND PATIENTS
“I am blessed that my cancer was detected relatively early, and I can’t emphasize enough how important routine screenings are, regardless of how healthy you think you are,” he added.
Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 men, and it is more common among older men and minorities, according to the American Cancer Society. About 60% of cases are men who are 65 years or older, and the disease is rare for men under the age of 40.
Tillis expressed the importance of annual checkups and said that had he not gone to his annual physical, the cancer wouldn’t have been detected.
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“My prognosis is good because I went to my annual physical and received a PSA test, which led to a biopsy and, eventually, my diagnosis. Early detection can truly save lives,” he said.
