Breaking news out of Colorado: Senator Bennet has been diagnosed with prostate cancer:
His PSA was high. The biopsy showed malignancy. The doctors recommended that, at his age, surgery was the best course of action. His family agreed. The risk, he was told, was low. John Kerry had survived, cancer free, the same surgery in 2003 and two weeks later was back on the campaign trail, on his way to winning the Democratic nomination. And so …
And so, now Bennet is still committed to running for president if — and it’s an important if, but an if that Bennet says he’s at peace with — he will be cancer free. The surgery to remove the prostate gland is scheduled for soon after the congressional spring recess, which begins on April 11.
--Mike Littwin, Colorado Independent
Bennet's prognosis is good as it was detected early. Remember the last senator diagnosed with prostate cancer, John Kerry, remains cancer-free to date... and in fact, was back on the campaign trail just weeks after his surgery.
Kerry was right about at his 60th birthday upon his diagnosis. Bennet is 54. That does raise my eyebrows a little, him being younger.
Still, he had just gone in for a routine physical when he found the cancer. Imagine if he hadn't done so... had instead opted to, like a certain someone, parade around boasting of "having the greatest health!"
1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, and around 1 in 40 will die. These are roughly the same numbers for both diagnosis and death rate as for breast cancer in women. In fact, there is a small but significant genetic connection between the two cancers.
Sen. Bennet will stay in the presidential race, but only if he remains healthy. He is due for surgery in about 10 days.
Wishing you a speedy recovery, Senator!
CNN: Bennet has cancer, will have surgery this month
Politico: Bennet has prostate cancer but still wants to run for president