Brooks Announces He Has High-Risk Prostate Cancer
‘Losing the Senate race may have saved my life. Yes, God does work in mysterious ways.’
Rep. Mo Brooks announced on the House floor Wednesday he has high-risk prostate cancer.
He will be receiving surgery Friday.
“Mr. Speaker, this is a very difficult speech for me to give,” he said. “God works in mysterious ways. When you are an elected official, missed votes require an explanation. That is why I disclose this other very personal, very private and very humbling matter.”
Brook will receive a prostatectomy, an operation to remove the prostate gland.
Brooks ran for the Alabama Senate seat vacated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions but did not make it past the primary. Democrat Doug Jones won the general election on Tuesday night, upsetting former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore.
“Had I won, I would not have had time for my physical and PSA test, I would not have had a prostate biopsy, I would not now know about my high-risk prostate cancer that requires immediate surgery. In retrospect and paradoxically, losing the Senate race may have saved my life. Yes, God does work in mysterious ways,” he said choking up.
Brooks on Cancer Diagnosis: Losing Senate Bid May Have Saved My Life
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The congressman said he was first told by his doctor Halloween night after votes as he stood on the Capitol steps.
“I felt an adrenaline rush as a chill went up and down my spine,” he said.
Brooks recently had a heart stress test and a nuclear bone scan. The congressman said the scans revealed no cancer beyond the prostate. He booked his surgery for Friday. The House was supposed to finish the year on Thursday. Then the calendar changed.
“Unfortunately, last week the House Speaker abruptly changed the House voting calendar that I relied on to set my surgery,” Brooks said. “As a result, next week I will miss house floor votes unless I am unexpectedly medically cleared to travel.”
The congressman said his father and grandfather had prostate cancer. His father lived with it for four decades while his grandfather died quickly.