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U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Davis last October. |
Fredericksburg-area Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis has begun chemotherapy for a recurrence of breast cancer.
The news, announced yesterday by her office, comes eight months after Davis' doctors declared her cancer-free.
Davis, a Republican who was re-elected to serve a fourth term in Washington last year, was originally diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2005. She underwent months of chemotherapy and a mastectomy on her left breast in July, after which doctors told her she'd beaten the disease.
The return of the cancer was discovered last month when Davis, 56, was undergoing surgery for a ruptured ureter.
"This cancer is treatable, and I have just begun chemotherapy and I am very confident of a full recovery," Davis said in a statement. "I was able to beat this disease before, and I will beat it once again."
Davis, who lives in Gloucester, has been at home recovering from her recent surgery. She is expected back in Washington this month and says she plans to work while receiving treatment.
During her first bout with the disease, she scheduled chemotherapy sessions on Fridays so she could recover over the weekend and be back for House votes the following the week.
Davis represents the 1st District, which stretches from Stafford County to the Hampton Roads area and includes the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula.
In January, she introduced a host of bills covering everything from veterans benefits to health care, including several that would improve coverage for women with breast cancer.
"She's very upbeat. She's anxious to get back," said her spokesman, Chris Connelly. "She's keeping us busy."
Edie Gross: 540/374-5428
Email: egross@freelancestar.com
