Updated 9:40 a.m. Tuesday: David Trone, co-owner of Total Wine & More and the Democratic nominee for the 6th Congressional District, revealed Monday that he’s undergoing treatment for “localized cancer.”
In a statement released shortly before 4:30 p.m., the Democratic congressional hopeful said doctors confirmed in late June that he had a tumor in his urinary tract. He is now preparing for removal of a kidney in mid-September.
“The treatment team members believe my prognosis is positive,” he said. “They say I may miss a few days of the campaign immediately after the surgery but nothing that will interfere with my being fully engaged as a candidate and as a member of Congress after the recovery.”
Trone, who co-owns Total Wine & More with his brother, is running to replace U.S. Rep. John Delaney (D) in a district that runs from Western Maryland to Potomac. He spent more than $11 million of his personal fortune to win the primary and is now facing Republican candidate Amie Hoeber, Libertarian Kevin T. Caldwell and Green Party candidate George Gluck in the November general election.
On Monday, Trone said his cancer came to light after an abnormal lab result during his annual checkup prompted doctors to conduct further testing. Since his June diagnosis, he has been through a course of chemotherapy at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, and his tumor has shrunk substantially as a result, according to the news release.
Next, doctors will remove the kidney nearest the cancer.
In his statement, Trone heaped praise on his wife, June, for standing by his side through the medical ordeal. The news release also included a statement from Trone’s physician, Dr. Phillip Pierorazio of the Brady Urological Institute and Department of Urology at Johns Hopkins and the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.
“David’s prognosis is excellent,” Pierorazio said. “The chemotherapy has reduced the size of the tumor, and we foresee no complications from the upcoming surgery to remove the kidney. His underlying health is strong, and he has fully complied with every recommendation of his treatment team.”
Hoeber on Monday evening said she’d called Trone after learning of his diagnosis.
“I just left a message on David Trone’s telephone to tell him that I hope he has a speedy recovery from his cancer. In my message I also sent June and the Trone family my wishes for the strength to help him through this. It must be extremely difficult to deal with these matters while in the public spotlight,” she wrote in a statement.
Trone spent Monday telling his friends and colleagues about his health situation. Warm statements from a number of elected officials—including Delaney and County Executive Ike Leggett—were attached to Trone’s announcement.
“I have never been prouder to call David my friend,” Delaney said. “April [my wife] and I hope everyone in the District will join us in wishing David a full and speedy recovery, and supporting David, June, and their children with love and prayers.”
Leggett said: “David has been a good friend to Montgomery County, beating every challenge he’s faced to build a successful business that supports countless Marylanders. He will overcome this latest obstacle, and he will go on to serve as an outstanding advocate for all of us in Congress.”
Ben Jealous, the Democratic nominee for Maryland governor, also released a statement. “He is a fighter and I know we will soon welcome him back to the campaign trail,” Jealous said of Trone.
