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By Andrew Stanton
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Representative Steve Scalise revealed on Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a form of blood cancer.
"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, a 57-year-old Louisiana Republican who serves as the House majority leader, wrote in a statement.
Scalise said that he has begun treatment, which will continue for the next several months, and anticipates that he will continue working through this time.
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"I am incredibly grateful we were able to detect this early and that this cancer is treatable. I am grateful 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," he wrote.
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Multiple Myeloma is a type of cancer that forms in white blood cells that help people fight infections by making antibodies, according to the Mayo Clinic. When a person has multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells overwhelm healthy blood cells in the bone marrow. Symptoms include bone pain, fatigue, weight loss and excessive thirst.
While doctors know that multiple myeloma starts with one abnormal plasma cell in a person's bone marrow, there aren't clear causes of this type of cancer. It often starts out as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, a condition that has a low level of abnormal plasma cells but doesn't cause damage to a person's body.
Multiple myeloma is more common in men, Black people and older people, as most patients are diagnosed in their mid-60s.
Several members of Congress offered Scalise their best wishes following news of the diagnosis.
"Praying for Leader @SteveScalise and his entire family after learning about his cancer diagnosis. Steve is incredibly strong and I pray his treatments are successful and he has a full recovery!" Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
Representative Hillary Scholten, a Michigan Democrat, posted on X: "My prayers are with Majority Leader @SteveScalise and his loved ones while he undergoes treatment. Wishing you a smooth and efficient recovery."
"Heidi and I are praying for Majority Leader @SteveScalise after his diagnosis with cancer. May God's tender hands heal him during his treatment and give his loved ones strength," Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, posted.
"Prayers up - God bless, you @SteveScalise #BeatCancer," wrote Representative Chip Roy, a Texas Republican.
In 2017, Scalise was critically wounded during a shooting at a Congressional Baseball Game practice in Alexandria, Virginia, along with five others. He spent nearly three months recovering after being shot in the hip before returning to Congress.
Update 08/29/23, 12:08 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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