Rep. Mo Brooks announced Wednesday in an emotional House floor address that he has prostate cancer.
Mr. Brooks, Alabama Republican, said that losing the Senate primary in August may have saved his life.
“Had I won, I would not have had time for my physical and PSA test, I would not have had a prostate biopsy, I would not now know about my high-risk prostate cancer that requires immediate surgery. In retrospect and paradoxically, losing the Senate race may have saved my life,” he said.
He was running against eventual GOP nominee Roy Moore, but fell short behind Mr. Moore and incumbent Sen. Luther Strange, who went on to compete in a runoff election.
“God does work in mysterious ways,” he said.
The congressman said he will leave for surgery, which is scheduled for Friday. The House calendar changed last week, after he had booked the surgery, so he said he would miss the remaining votes next week.
Mr. Brooks was one of the members present on the baseball field in Alexandria, Virginia, when House Majority Whip Steve Scalise was shot back in June. He gave one of the first accounts of what happened on the field.
• Sally Persons can be reached at spersons@washingtontimes.com.
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