Ron DeSantis' wife Casey diagnosed with breast cancer: Florida's Republican Governor pays tribute to 'fighter' mother-of-three who will 'never give up'
- The governor did not say at what stage the cancer was detected
- Casey DeSantis, 41, and her husband are the parents of Madison, 4 years old, Mason, three years old and Mamie, 18 months
- She formerly worked for the PGA tour as a producer and television host
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday that his wife Casey has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
'I am saddened to report that Florida's esteemed First Lady and my beloved wife has been diagnosed with breast cancer. As the mother of three young children, Casey is the centerpiece of our family and has made an impact on the lives of countless Floridians through her initiatives as First Lady,' the governor said in a statement.
'As she faces the most difficult test of her life, she will have not only have my unwavering support but the support of our entire family, as well as the prayers and well wishes from Floridians across our state. Casey is a true fighter, and she will never, never, never give up.'
The governor did not say at what stage the cancer was detected.
Casey DeSantis, 41, and her husband are the parents of Madison, 4 years old, Mason, three years old and Mamie, 18 months.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday that his wife Casey has been diagnosed with breast cancer
Casey DeSantis, 41, and her husband are the parents of Madison, 4 years old, Mason, three years old and Mamie, 18 months
Casey formerly worked for the PGA tour as a producer and television host
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Since the governor took office in 2019, DeSantis has launched four major initiatives, including most recently spearheading 'Hope Florida – A Pathway to Prosperity, Economic Self-Sufficiency and Hope.' The program benefits single parents, Floridians on government assistance, single mothers with substance abuse issues and children aging out of the foster care system.
She formerly worked for the PGA tour as a producer and television host. DeSantis was also a three-time national equestrian champion and a runner-up NCAA division one champion.
Former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, a Florida native who has spoken publicly about her preventative double mastectomy, paid tribute to DeSantis on Twitter: 'My family and I will be praying for @FLCaseyDeSantis & every woman battling breast cancer! Casey is a strong woman and an amazing mother. My heart is with her and her family!'
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp also sent prayers to Florida's first lady on Twitter, as did South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, along with other Republicans.
'@GAFirstLady, the girls, and I are sending prayers for healing and strength to @FLCaseyDeSantis and the entire DeSantis family!' Kemp wrote.
'Bryon and I send our prayers for a speedy recovery to @FLCaseyDeSantis, may the Lord give you strength and bless the physicians providing your care. God Bless you, Ron and the DeSantis Family,' Noem said.
'I know @FLCaseyDeSantis is a fighter and has the strength to beat breast cancer,' Noem said in another tweet.
Gov. DeSantis is seen as a potential presidential contender for 2024 ,though he has tamped down such speculation, saying he's instead focused on his run for reelection in 2022.
McEnany has spoken publicly about her own preventative double mastectomy
Since the governor took office in 2019, DeSantis has spearheaded four major initiatives
Gov. DeSantis described his wife Casey as 'the centerpiece of our family'
'I know @FLCaseyDeSantis is a fighter and has the strength to beat breast cancer,' Noem said in another tweet.
Gov. DeSantis is seen as a potential presidential contender for 2024, though he has tamped down such speculation, saying he's instead focused on his run for reelection in 2022.
Last week, the governor told Fox News' Sean Hannity: 'I'm not considering anything beyond doing my job.'
'We've got a lot of stuff going on in Florida. I'm going to be running for reelection next year and we're also working on a lot of things in the state beyond just the governor's race,' he said.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and affects more than two MILLION women a year
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Each year in the UK there are more than 55,000 new cases, and the disease claims the lives of 11,500 women. In the US, it strikes 266,000 each year and kills 40,000. But what causes it and how can it be treated?
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer develops from a cancerous cell which develops in the lining of a duct or lobule in one of the breasts.
When the breast cancer has spread into surrounding breast tissue it is called an 'invasive' breast cancer. Some people are diagnosed with 'carcinoma in situ', where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobule.
Most cases develop in women over the age of 50 but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men though this is rare.
Staging means how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body.
The cancerous cells are graded from low, which means a slow growth, to high, which is fast growing. High grade cancers are more likely to come back after they have first been treated.
What causes breast cancer?
A cancerous tumour starts from one abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. It is thought that something damages or alters certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and multiply 'out of control'.
Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are some risk factors that can increase the chance of developing breast cancer, such as genetics.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most breast lumps are not cancerous and are fluid filled cysts, which are benign.
The first place that breast cancer usually spreads to is the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this occurs you will develop a swelling or lump in an armpit.
How is breast cancer diagnosed?
- Initial assessment: A doctor examines the breasts and armpits. They may do tests such as a mammography, a special x-ray of the breast tissue which can indicate the possibility of tumours.
- Biopsy: A biopsy is when a small sample of tissue is removed from a part of the body. The sample is then examined under the microscope to look for abnormal cells. The sample can confirm or rule out cancer.
If you are confirmed to have breast cancer, further tests may be needed to assess if it has spread. For example, blood tests, an ultrasound scan of the liver or a chest x-ray.
How is breast cancer treated?
Treatment options which may be considered include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. Often a combination of two or more of these treatments are used.
- Surgery: Breast-conserving surgery or the removal of the affected breast depending on the size of the tumour.
- Radiotherapy: A treatment which uses high energy beams of radiation focussed on cancerous tissue. This kills cancer cells, or stops cancer cells from multiplying. It is mainly used in addition to surgery.
- Chemotherapy: A treatment of cancer by using anti-cancer drugs which kill cancer cells, or stop them from multiplying
- Hormone treatments: Some types of breast cancer are affected by the 'female' hormone oestrogen, which can stimulate the cancer cells to divide and multiply. Treatments which reduce the level of these hormones, or prevent them from working, are commonly used in people with breast cancer.
How successful is treatment?
The outlook is best in those who are diagnosed when the cancer is still small, and has not spread. Surgical removal of a tumour in an early stage may then give a good chance of cure.
The routine mammography offered to women between the ages of 50 and 70 mean more breast cancers are being diagnosed and treated at an early stage.
For more information visit breastcancercare.org.uk, breastcancernow.org or www.cancerhelp.org.uk
Former Sec. of State Mike Pompeo said: 'Susan and I are praying for @FLCaseyDeSantis and for @GovRonDeSantis. May the Lord be with them and all of their family as they rise to the challenge before them.'
'Our hearts and thoughts are with @FLCaseyDeSantis. Ann and I pray that the Lord grants Casey, @GovRonDeSantis and their family strength in this fight. Florida stands with you!' said Florida GOP Sen. Rick Scott.
'Lourdes and I send our prayers to @FLCaseyDesantis, @GovRonDeSantis, and their 3 children. While cancer is a devastating disease, medical advances have drastically increased remission and recovery rates. With God’s help, I am sure Casey will pull through this difficult time,' Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., wrote on Twitter.
'Rand and I are keeping Florida’s First Lady Casey DeSantis and family in our prayers. May God cover this amazing woman and her beautiful family with His love, strength, and healing,' Kelly Paul, wife of Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.,tweeted.
