WASHINGTON (OSV News) — House Majority Leader Steve Scalise disclosed Aug. 29 that he has been diagnosed with a “very treatable” form of blood cancer.
Scalise, who is a Louisiana Republican, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that “after a few days of not feeling like myself this past week, I had some blood work done.”
“The results uncovered some irregularities and after undergoing additional tests, I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a very treatable blood cancer,” Scalise wrote. “I have now begun treatment, which will continue for the next several months.”
Congress is scheduled to return from its monthlong August recess in September, and Scalise said that he expects to work through his treatment and “return to Washington, continuing my work as Majority Leader and serving the people of Louisiana’s First Congressional District.”
“I am incredibly grateful we were able to detect this early and that this cancer is treatable,” Scalise, who is Catholic, wrote. “I am thankful for my excellent medical team, and with the help of God, support of my family, friends, colleagues, and constituents, I will tackle this with the same strength and energy as I have tackled past challenges.”
According to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that develops in plasma cells in the bone marrow, transforming into cancerous cells instead of healthy cells that fight infections.
“Being diagnosed with multiple myeloma can feel overwhelming, but myeloma can be a highly manageable disease,” the foundation website states.
Scalise was severely wounded in a mass shooting at a congressional baseball practice in 2017. He was shot in the hip, and the bullet ruptured several organs, requiring multiple surgeries. Scalise has regained some mobility in the years following the attack.
“I shouldn’t be alive today by most standards if you look at what happened and how that day ended up,” Scalise said last year in an interview with Fox News marking the fifth anniversary of that attack, crediting Capitol Police, colleagues on the field with him at the time and medical personnel who performed multiple surgeries with saving his life.
Scalise’s colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers of Congress offered their prayers and well-wishes for his recovery, including some of his fellow Catholic lawmakers.
Rep. Michelle Fischbach, R-Minn., wrote on X that she would pray for Scalise’s “quick recovery.”
“He is a fighter and I’m confident he’ll come out of this fight on top as he always has,” she said.
Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, wrote on X that he was “deeply saddened” by the news.
“Steve is a fighter, and I know he’ll be back to good health soon,” Cuellar said. “Praying for you, Steve!”
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