U.S. Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva says has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing treatment.
In a news release Tuesday, Grijalva, 76, shared that he sought treatment for a persistent cough a few weeks ago and found out he had pneumonia. Further testing and imaging revealed he had cancer.
Neither the news release nor his office specified what type of cancer the congressman has.
“This diagnosis has been difficult to process, but I am confident in the vigorous course of treatment that my medical team has developed, and I’ve begun my journey to fight this cancer,” Grijalva said in the statement.
“My congressional office remains open and the many services we provide for our constituents continue uninterrupted. I am in regular communication with my staff and I continue to work as I undergo treatment.
“I am grateful to my family, friends and doctors for their support, and I am working hard to get healthy and return to business as usual as soon as I am able.
“I appreciate your consideration, well wishes and respect for my family’s privacy during this time. My heart goes out to others struggling with cancer, and I wish everyone strength in their fight.”
Grijalva’s longtime aide, Ruben Reyes, said the congressman has been at home in Tucson.
“We don’t know when he’s going to be making the trip to DC, but he is planning on going back to DC eventually when he gets the green light,” Reyes said.
Grijalva, a Democrat, still plans to run for re-election in Congressional District 7, the district that includes the western half of Tucson, much of the Arizona-Mexico border in Cochise County, and southwestern Arizona all the way to Yuma.
If he wins, it would be his 12th consecutive election victory since first taking the seat in 2002.
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