Last week, U.S. Representative Glenn Thompson (R–Pa.) announced that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer after a routine physical. Not counting non-melanoma skin cancers, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men.

Thompson, 64, shared the news of his diagnosis in a statement posted to the social media platform X and via a press release. The Pennsylvania representative said he will remain active in Congress while undergoing treatment for his cancer.

“After a routine physical and subsequent tests, I was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer,” Thompson wrote. “While this diagnosis was a surprise, I feel well, and I will continue my work representing the people of Pennsylvania’s 15th District.”

About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society, which estimates that by the end of this year about 288,300 people will have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and about 34,700 will have died of it.

“Anyone who’s worked with me knows I am a person of faith as well as an eternal optimist, both of which will guide me as I undergo treatment,” Thompson wrote.

Thompson received many positive messages on his post from supporters and fellow representatives.

While prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, the mortality rate has declined by about half from 1993 to 2013, according to the American Cancer Society.

Treatment options for prostate cancer include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, immunotherapy and more. Treatment depends on how advanced the cancer is when detected, including tumor size and whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or other parts of the body. The five-year relative survival rate for someone diagnosed with prostate cancer that has not spread to other parts of the body is greater than 99%.

To learn more, click #Prostate Cancer or Cancer Health’s Basics on Prostate Cancer. It reads in part:

What is prostate cancer? 
Cancer develops when cells grow out of control. Prostate cancer is a typically slow-growing cancer of the prostate gland, a walnut-sized organ located under the bladder and in front of the rectum. But in some cases, the cancer can grow rapidly and spread beyond the prostate, a process known as metastasis.

 

What are the risk factors for prostate cancer?
The major risk factors for prostate cancer are genetics and family history. Studies looking at the link between prostate cancer and a diet high in red meat, chemical exposures, including smoking, sexually transmitted infections and having had a vasectomy have produced conflicting results.

 

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
Usually early-stage prostate cancer, when tumors are small, causes few or no symptoms. As cancer progresses, some men may experience symptoms including: 

— A frequent urge to urinate

— Difficulty urinating

— Blood in the urine or semen

— Difficulty getting an erection

— Pain in the lower back and hips.

Some of these symptoms may also be caused by noncancerous enlargement of the prostate, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia. Men with metastatic prostate cancer may experience other symptoms, such as bone pain, as the cancer spreads.