Former Trump press secretary and current Arkansas GOP gubernatorial nominee Sarah Huckabee Sanders gave an update on her condition and her campaign Thursday evening after being diagnosed and treated last month for thyroid cancer.
In an appearance with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Sanders said that she is “grateful” to be back on the campaign trail after being cleared of the disease.
“I feel great. I’m incredibly blessed to have had this caught early by the grace of God and amazing doctors and nurses who gave me world-class care here in Arkansas. I’m now cancer-free,” Sanders said. “I’m grateful to have that behind me, be back on the campaign trail, and I had some great moments of perspective on everything that really matters in life.”
She also said that she had drawn quite of bit of support and counsel from her father, former Arkansas GOP Gov. Mike Huckabee, throughout her ordeal and her campaign.
“He’s an incredible source of encouragement, a great resource throughout this process, and certainly so helpful in everything that I’m doing,” she said of her father. “I think no one will be happier for me to take the claim of best governor of Arkansas than he will.”
“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,” she added.
In a separate statement, Sanders’ physician, Dr. John R. Sims, M.D., the Head and Neck Oncologic and Microvascular Reconstructive Surgeon at CARTI Cancer Center in Little Rock, added: “Sarah is currently recovering from surgery in which we removed her thyroid gland and some of the surrounding lymph nodes in her neck. 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.”
