For the second time this year, an Iowa senator has been diagnosed with cancer.
Sen. Dave Rowley, R-Spirit Lake, said in a news release Feb. 23 that he has recently been diagnosed with tonsil cancer.
“Every cancer diagnosis is serious, but after talking with my family, friends, and care team, we are all optimistic we can face this head on, and it is treatable and curable,” Rowley said in a statement. “Over the next several weeks, I will be undergoing treatment. My goal is to be in the Senate chamber as much as I can to work on the important issues we have ahead of us this legislative session.”
Rowley’s diagnosis follows the announcement from Sen. Catelin Drey, D-Sioux City, in January that she had been diagnosed with stage one uterine cancer.
Iowa has the second-highest cancer rates in the country and some of the fastest rising rates.
Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh, R-Spillville, said he and Senate Republicans will support Rowley as he receives treatment.
“Senator Rowley is a valued and dedicated member of our caucus, and he is in all our thoughts and prayers during this fight,” Klimesh said in a statement. “We will support him and his family in any way we can as he undergoes treatment.”
Rowley said he has been working to communicate with committee chairs on legislation and with constituents by phone and email to assist with their concerns.
“I appreciate the patience and understanding of everyone both at home and at the Capitol, and will be fighting this with everything I have,” he said. “Later this spring I expect to be back to work at the legislature and hit the ground running for this next election cycle — in fact just this morning, I filed my paperwork to run for reelection this year.”
Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on X at @sgrubermiller.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Sen. Dave Rowley announces he’s been diagnosed with tonsil cancer
Reporting by Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
