Wolf to undergo treatment for prostate cancer

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced Wednesday that he has been diagnosed with a “mild” case of prostate cancer and will undergo treatment beginning in the next two weeks.

The governor said a routine checkup last fall gave him the first indication of cancer, and follow-up tests afterward confirmed it. He wouldn’t detail the extent of the cancer, nor the treatment he’ll receive for it, but he said he won’t need chemotherapy.

“I’m convinced by the people who have looked at this, and by other people, that I’ve gotten this early on and it’s — it’s very eminently treatable,” said the governor.

Wolf was upbeat, even cracking wise as he and his wife addressed reporters, stressing that they’re confident he’ll make a full recovery.

“Prostate cancer is something that older men — um — get,” said the 67-year-old Wolf, pausing for laughter as he feigned annoyance at his age.

First lady Frances Wolf said the governor’s doctors have been “encouraging.”

“They know how to do, what to do,” she said. “We don’t need to be sad about this.”

The governor said he wants to use the instance of his own illness to remind Pennsylvanians that routine medical checkups matter.