U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee announces ‘serious but curable’ cancer

U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., will step away from his congressional duties for a “few weeks” after a scan found a small tumor in one of his tonsils, his office announced Friday.

Kildee, who represents the 8th Congressional District including Flint, Saginaw and Midland, originally scheduled a scan for a swollen lymph node after consulting with doctors. Following the scan, Kildee was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, which is office says is “serious but curable.”

“Thankfully, I caught it very early. With early detection and great doctors, they found a very small tumor in one of my tonsils,” Kildee said in a statement. He said he will have surgery to remove the cancer in the coming weeks, and has been advised by doctors that it will take additional weeks to recover from the surgery before he can resume working in Congress.

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“The prognosis after surgery and treatment is excellent,” he said. “My doctors have advised me it will take a few weeks to recover after the surgery. I’m eager to have this chapter behind me and get back to work. But in the meantime, I’ll be away from the office for a period of time. My congressional office will remain open to serve the people of Michigan’s Eighth Congressional District.”