Rep. Carolyn McCarthy Has Lung Cancer
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy has been diagnosed with lung cancer, the New York Democrat announced Monday.
Calling the illness “treatable,” McCarthy said in an official statement that she plans to begin a treatment plan “soon,” and that her doctors at the renowned Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center say she is in “good physical health.”
“There will be some tough days ahead and I will have to miss activities in Washington during my treatment in New York,” she continued, “but I will continue to be a strong advocate for the 4th Congressional District — and … my capable and longtime staff will continue to support the needs of my constituents.”
McCarthy also asked for privacy as she undergoes treatment, while calling herself a “fighter.”
Though the official statement does not include what physicians believe is the cause of McCarthy’s cancer, she is a frequent smoker known to be a fixture among the House members — including Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio — who like to step out onto the balcony in the Speakers’ Lobby for cigarettes and cigars in between votes.