Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) made the tragic announcement on Monday that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Tillis made this announcement in a statement posted to Twitter.

“Next week, I will have surgery in North Carolina to treat prostate cancer. I am in the hands of outstanding medical professionals and expect to make a full recovery,” he said. “I am blessed that my cancer was detected relatively early and I can’t emphasize enough how important routine screenings are, regardless of how healthy you are. I had no symptoms and would have never imagined I had cancer.”

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“My prognosis is good because I went to my annual physical and received a PSA test, which led to a biopsy and eventually my diagnosis,” Tillis added. “Early detection can truly save lives.”

The Raleigh News & Observer reported that PSA stands for prostate-specific antigen, and “it is a blood test that measures levels of PSA produced by the prostate.” It went on to add that “the diagnosis has not limited Tillis’s work recently,” as “he traveled to the southern border late last week” along with several various other Republican senators.

The American Cancer Society states that prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the U.S., behind lung cancer, and the average age to be diagnosed with it is 66.

Republican lawmakers have been speaking out to express support for Tillis in the wake of this diagnosis.

“We’re praying for a smooth and speedy recovery,” said Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC). “I’m confident Thom will tackle this latest challenge the way he approaches everything in life: with plenty of energy, good spirits and the support of his family and friends.”

Tillis has been in the Senate since 2015, according to Fox News. In the 2020 election, he had a hard-fought reelection battle against Democrat Cal Cunningham.

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“Thom and Susan are in our prayers as they go through this difficult time,” tweeted Michael Whatley, the chair of North Carolina’s Republican Party. “We wish Senator Tillis a swift and speedy recovery.”