CNN first broke some shocking news Monday that former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney was treated for prostate cancer over the summer.
According to a source close to Romney, he was diagnosed with slow-growing prostate cancer, but it was successfully surgically removed by Dr. Thomas Ahlering at UC Irvine Hospital in California.
Source close to @MittRomney:
“Mitt Romney was treated over the summer for prostate cancer. He was treated surgically by Dr. Thomas Ahlering at UC Irvine Hospital in California. His prognosis is good; he was successfully treated.”
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 8, 2018
.@MittRomney aide offers more details:
“Last year, Governor Mitt Romney was diagnosed with slow-growing prostate cancer. The cancer was removed surgically and found not to have spread beyond the prostate”
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 8, 2018
Further details are unknown, but the revelation of Romney’s cancer diagnosis could affect a potential Senate run in Utah, where he’s widely expected to run for retiring Sen. Orrin Hatch’s seat. Romney issued a statement last week thanking Hatch for his service in politics.
I join the people of Utah in thanking my friend, Senator Orrin Hatch for his more than forty years of service to our great state and nation. Read my full statement: https://t.co/YwjUpjez5y
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) January 2, 2018
Romney also updated his Twitter location to reflect a Utah residence immediately following Hatch’s retirement announcement.
First screenshot: 3:12 PM EST today
Second screenshot: 5:45 PM EST today
See if you can spot the difference. pic.twitter.com/OuxM7sc2cd
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) January 2, 2018
In early 2017, it was reported that Hatch had been in talks with Romney to take over his Senate seat should he retire. However, Hatch denied the reports at the time.
Romney has been an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, but he’s beloved in the state of Utah, where he won 73 percent of the vote in the 2012 presidential election.
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