Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) announced on Wednesday on the House floor that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and will likely be missing votes in the coming week. His surgery is scheduled for Friday.
In a very emotional floor speech, Brooks said that he received a call from his doctor on Halloween informing him that he had prostate cancer. Fortunately, the cancer was caught before it spread, meaning that Brooks has a "very good cure prognosis." Initially, the surgery was scheduled so that Brooks would not miss any votes, but after the House of Representatives changed their schedule, it became apparent that he would have to miss a few days of work for recovery.
Both Brooks' father and grandfather were also diagnosed with prostate cancer. His father's was caught early enough and he survived four decades after he was diagnosed, but his grandfather's was not and he passed away shortly after diagnosis.
Brooks encouraged everyone to value the time they have with their relatives, especially around the holidays, and he also said that men should have regular PSA tests. He credits this exam for saving his life.
Watch the speech below:
In a somewhat ironic test, Brooks also credits the fact that he lost the Alabama Senate primary for having the time to visit the doctor and get tested. Early detection is key to surviving prostate cancer, and had he been running in the run-off and general election, he likely would not have caught it in time.
"God works in mysterious ways," said Brooks.
Our best wishes for a speedy recovery, Rep. Brooks.