Sen. Amy Klobuchar revealed Thursday she was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year but that she had since been treated successfully for the disease and was at no greater risk of developing it again.
The Minnesota Democrat wrote in a Medium blog post that upon a visit to the Mayo Clinic in February, doctors “found small white spots called calcifications during a routine mammogram.” She then underwent a biopsy at Piper Breast Center in Minneapolis and “learned that I had Stage 1A breast cancer.”
“After a number of other tests, I returned to Mayo and had a lumpectomy on the right breast which involved the removal of the cancer. In May, I completed a course of radiation treatment, and after additional follow-up visits, it was determined in August that the treatment went well,” Klobuchar wrote.
“Of course this has been scary at times, since cancer is the word all of us fear,” she added, “but at this point my doctors believe that my chances of developing cancer again are no greater than the average person.”
Klobuchar, a three-term senior senator and former 2020 presidential candidate, also used her blog post Thursday to thank her health care providers, friends and family, as well as to urge Americans to no longer delay routine physician examinations they might have foregone during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Like often happens with anyone dealing with illness, this experience gave me time to reflect on my own life and those I love. It also gave me renewed purpose to my work,” she wrote. “I have immense gratitude for my family, friends, colleagues, and the people of Minnesota, and I know that each day is a gift.”