Monday morning, the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his wife Casey DeSantis 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,” the governor said in a statement Monday morning.
“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,” DeSantis said. “As she faces the most difficult test of her life, she will 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.”
According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers. The average risk of a woman in the United States developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 13 percent. This means there is a 1 in 8 chance a woman will develop breast cancer, and this also means there is a 7 in 8 chance she will never have the disease.
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Democrat, voiced her support for the Florida’s first lady.
“@FLCaseyDeSantis As a #breastcancer survivor also diagnosed at 41 and a 14-year survivor, I’m wishing you the strength you need to fight and win this battle,” Wasserman-Schultz said on Twitter. “The breast cancer survivor sisterhood knows no party. Please reach out if I can help in any way.”
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, and only lung cancer kills more women each year. The chance that a woman will die from breast cancer is about 1 in 39, or 2.6%, according to the American Cancer Society. Since 2007, breast cancer death rates have been steady in women younger than 50 but have continued to decrease in older women, according to the American Cancer Society.
Democrat U.S. Representative Charlie Crist, who hopes to be his party’s nominee for governor in 2022, wished Casey DeSantis a speedy recovery.
“Praying for the First Lady and her family,” Crist said on Twitter.” Here’s to a successful treatment and a speedy recovery. Almost every family has been touched in some way by cancer, and our hearts are with you in this fight. God bless.”
Miami Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava also sent Mrs. DeSantis well wishes.
“My heart is with you and your entire family, @FLCaseyDeSantis — we know you’re a fighter, and cancer doesn’t stand a chance,” Cava said on Twitter. “Get well soon.”
The details of Mrs. DeSantis’ diagnosis, stage and treatment have not been released.