U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina has prostate cancer and will undergo surgery next week.
The North Carolina Republican announced his diagnosis Monday, saying it was detected early. Tillis says his prognosis is good, and that a PSA test from his annual physical exam led to doctors finding cancer.
"I can’t emphasize enough how important routine screenings are, regardless of how healthy you think you are," Tillis, 60, said in a statement. "I had no symptoms and would have never imagined I had cancer."
Next week, I will have surgery in North Carolina to treat prostate cancer. I am in the hands of outstanding medical professionals and expect to make a full recovery. pic.twitter.com/HxdQuSyVtI
— Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) March 29, 2021
Tillis, a former North Carolina House speaker and one-time member of the Cornelius Board of Commissioners, was elected to the Senate in 2014 in a victory over one-term incumbent Democrat Kay Hagan, who died in 2019. He won reelection last year, beating Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham.
Tillis said his surgery will be in North Carolina.
"I am in the hands of outstanding medical professionals and expect to make a full recovery," he said.
