New York Democrat Rep. Carolyn McCarthy has a “treatable form” of lung cancer, her office announced Monday.
“My doctor at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where I’ll receive my treatment, has told me that I begin my treatment in good physical health and that he looks forward to my return to work after I recover,” she said in a statement. “My family and I will appreciate privacy while I undergo my treatment."
McCarthy acknowledged that she will have to “miss activities in Washington” during treatment for her illness but that she and her staff will continue to work for her constituents in New York’s Fourth District.
She has served in Congress since 1996. McCarthy first ran for the seat after a gunman shot and killed her husband on a Long Island commuter train, and she has worked as an advocate for stricter gun laws throughout her 16 years on Capitol Hill.
“I am a fighter, as many people know, and I am committed to beating this latest challenge in my life,” she said Monday. “I’m grateful for the support and love of my family, friends, colleagues, and staff. I look forward to a successful treatment and returning to continue the mission that I've started as a Member of Congress.”