Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who is running as the Republican gubernatorial candidate in Arkansas, announced on Friday that she is now "cancer-free" after she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer earlier this month.
"During a check-up earlier this month, my doctor ordered a biopsy on an area of concern in my neck, and the test revealed that I had thyroid cancer," Sanders said in a statement on Friday, The Blaze reports.
"Today, I underwent a successful surgery to remove my thyroid and surrounding lymph nodes, and by the grace of God, I am now cancer-free," she continued. "I want to thank the Arkansas doctors and nurses for their world-class care, as well as my family and friends for their love, prayers, and support. I look forward to returning to the campaign trail soon. This experience has been a reminder that whatever battle you may be facing, don't lose heart. As governor, I will never quit fighting for the people of our great state."
Dr. John Sims, who performed surgery to remove Sander's thyroid and some lymph nodes, said the procedure was successful.
"Sarah is currently recovering from surgery in which we removed her thyroid gland and some of the surrounding lymph nodes in her neck," Dr. Sims said in a statement. "The surgery went extremely well, and I expect her to be back on her feet even within the next 24 hours. This is a Stage I papillary thyroid carcinoma which is the most common type of thyroid cancer and has an excellent prognosis.
"While she will need adjuvant treatment with radioactive iodine, as well as continued long term follow up, I think it's fair to say she's now cancer free, and I don't anticipate any of this slowing her down," he added.
Sanders, the daughter of former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, previously worked as White House Press secretary for former President Donald Trump. She also has Trump's endorsement in the 2022 Arkansas gubernatorial race.
Her Democratic opponent, Chris Jones, extended his thoughts and prayers to Sanders amid her recovery.
"Our hearts go out to you, Sarah. Our family is thinking of you and praying for you and your family. It's truly a blessing that you caught this cancer early and were able to receive world-class treatment so quickly. From one family of Arkansans to another, we send you hope, love, and healing," the Jones family said in a statement.
"Our family has been on this journey before, and, while it's not easy, we know personally the power of prayer, the healing hand of God, and the strength that comes from being surrounded by community. May you have an abundance of all in this season. We wish you a successful recovery. God bless."
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla/Staff
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
