House Republican #2 Rep. Steve Scales has been diagnosed with leukemia and is undergoing treatment

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Steve Scalise, the House Republican No. 2, said Tuesday he has been diagnosed with a type of blood cancer known as multiple myeloma and is undergoing treatment.

Scales, 57, said he would continue serving in the House of Representatives. He described the cancer as “highly treatable” and said it was caught early.

The Louisiana Republican was among several He was injured in 2017 When an attacker with a rifle opened fire on lawmakers at a baseball stadium in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside Washington. Scalise was shot in the hip and suffered a lengthy hospitalization, multiple surgeries, and painful rehabilitation.

Scales said his cancer diagnosis came after he had not felt like himself in the past week. Blood tests showed some irregularities and after further examinations he said he had been diagnosed Multiple myeloma.

“I have now begun treatment, which will continue for the next several months,” Scales said in a statement. “I expect to serve during this period and intend to return to Washington, DC, to continue my work as Majority Leader and to serve the people of Louisiana’s 1st congressional district.”

Scales also thanked his medical team and said he was “very grateful that we were able to detect this early and that this cancer is treatable.”

“I will approach this with the same strength and energy that I have dealt with previous challenges,” Scales said.