New York Gov. Hochul says she has skin cancer and will undergo removal procedure
NEW YORK (WABC) -- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday said she has been diagnosed with skin cancer and is scheduled to undergo a removal procedure this week.
The governor told reporters her doctor discovered basal cell carcinoma on her nose during a routine checkup a few weeks ago, describing it as a "tiny, tiny speck on my nose."
Hochul, 66, said she will have a removal procedure on Friday morning.
"I'm not going under, it's a local anesthesia," she said. "I'll be back to work about an hour later, but there will be a bandage on my nose."
Basal cell carcinoma is among the most common types of skin cancer. It is highly curable, especially when it is caught early. It is a slow-growing cancer that is usually confined to the surface of skin. Doctors often remove it with a shallow incision.
Hochul urged people to get regular medical checkups.
"This is an opportunity for me to talk about this because I want everyone to be so cautious, there's about six million diagnoses a day from the CDC and I want to make sure that everybody is smart about this. Use your sun tan lotion, make sure your kids are protected," Hochul said.
Mayor Eric Adams posted well wishes for Hochul on social media after her announcement:
"Our whole state is rooting for you, and we know you'll be back to work fighting for us in no time," Adams said in the post.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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