The governor said the diagnosis was made after a routine visit to her doctor. She described the ailment as minor, requiring quick treatment, and will barely interfere with her work schedule.
“A few weeks ago, at a routine checkup, my doctor discovered a basal cell carcinoma. I have a tiny, tiny speck on my nose. You can’t even see it. But out of an excess of caution, I encourage everyone to make sure that they do get regular checkups,” the governor said.
Hochul said she would undergo a “small needle procedure,” using a local anesthetic, to treat the cancer. She is expected to be back at work on Friday morning, an hour after the procedure, with a bandage on her nose as the only visible sign of having undergone treatment.
The governor went on to enumerate other steps people should take to avoid health complications and monitor their own and their loved ones’ health, besides regular checkups.
The governor expressed confidence that people are generally fairly sensible about protecting themselves from the possibly harmful effects of sunlight, but she still urged commonsense precautions.
“Use your suntan lotion, make sure your kids are protected,” she said.
As governor, Hochul has advocated for several measures that she says will protect the mental and physical health of New York residents.
The governor’s office did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.
