“House Majority Leader Steve Scalise Diagnosed with Treatable Blood Cancer, Plans to Continue Working”
– Steve Scalise, the second most powerful Republican in the US House of Representatives, reveals he is being treated for multiple myeloma, a blood cancer.
– Despite the diagnosis, Scalise intends to work through his treatment and return to Washington, citing his previous recovery from a mass shooting as inspiration.
Elaboration:
Scalise, who survived a mass shooting in 2017 and underwent a lengthy recovery, announced on Tuesday that he had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma after experiencing irregularities in his blood work. The 57-year-old expressed gratitude for the early detection and the treatability of the cancer. He expressed determination to tackle this challenge with the same strength and energy he has shown in the past. Scalise has steadily risen through the ranks of Republican leadership and currently serves as the right-hand man to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Colleagues from both sides of the aisle offered messages of support, highlighting Scalise’s previous recovery as evidence of his resilience. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana stated that the same faith, family support, and internal strength that inspired others after Scalise’s shooting will guide him through this illness.
Multiple myeloma is relatively uncommon in the US, with an estimated 35,730 cases expected to be diagnosed this year, according to the American Cancer Society. The cancer affects plasma cells, which are white blood cells that play a crucial role in the body’s immune response.
Source: www.bbc.com