Steve Scalise diagnosed with a ' treatable blood cancer'

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said Tuesday that he’s being treated for cancer.

“After a few days of not feeling like myself this past week, I had some blood work done. The results uncovered some irregularities and after undergoing additional tests, I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a very treatable blood cancer,” he said in a statement.

“I have now begun treatment, which will continue for the next several months. I expect to work through this period and intend to return to Washington, continuing my work as Majority Leader and serving the people of Louisiana’s First Congressional District," Scalise, 57, continued.

Scalise, who is 57-years old, is the second-highest-ranking Republican in the House after Speaker Kevin McCarthy. He is a major figure within the House GOP conference and has long been seen as either a potential successor, or rival, to McCarthy.

The Louisiana Republican is no stranger to health issues and adversity. He survived a shooting in 2017 at an early-morning practice ahead of a charity baseball game that left him in critical condition.

The turning point in his career was a 2012 win that made him chairman of the influential Republican Study Group. He beat Rep. Tom Graves, R-Ga., who had been unanimously recommended by the group's founders prior to the election.

Scalise had a close call in June 2017 when he was shot by a gunman in Alexandria, Va., as the then-House majority whip was playing second base, his normal position on the congressional baseball team. The gunman in that incident died. That incident led to a long road to recovery: Scalise underwent multiple surgeries and blood transfusions after the bullet that struck his left hip traveled across his pelvis, fracturing bones, injuring internal organs, and causing severe bleeding.

“I have now begun treatment, which will continue for the next several months,” Scalise said in a statement. “I expect to work through this period and intend to return to Washington, continuing my work as Majority Leader and serving the people of Louisiana’s First Congressional District.”

Scalise also thanked his medical team and said he was “incredibly grateful we were able to detect this early and that this cancer is treatable.”

“I will tackle this with the same strength and energy as I have tackled past challenges,” Scalise said.

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Sarah H

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