Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) announced that he has completed chemotherapy and that his cancer is in remission, celebrating the milestone by ringing the bell at Med Star Georgetown University Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
After finishing his last round of chemotherapy earlier this week, Raskin was told by doctors that his latest scan was “negative” for discernible cancer cells with a 90% chance of no relapse. The news comes after Raskin was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in December, beginning a monthslong series of treatments while still serving full time in the House as the top Democrat on the powerful Oversight Committee.
JAMIE RASKIN SAYS HE IS HALFWAY THROUGH HIS CANCER TREATMENT
“I am overwhelmed with gratitude and love,” Raskin said in an open letter to supporters. “I feel love and gratitude not just for my family, my friends, my constituents, and my colleagues but for the thousands of people — both Marylanders and those of you living much further away — who have reached out to me over the last five months with expressions of prayer, best wishes, concern, solidarity, sympathy, and moral encouragement.”
Tuesday I thanked nurses, doctors & pharmacists at @MedStarGUH who serve with splendid kindness—and saved my life over 5 months. I finished 6 rounds of 5-day chemo sessions—which they organized so I didn’t have to miss votes or hearings—and I rang the bell! A new chapter begins. pic.twitter.com/lAtpGyBG5b
— Jamie Raskin (@jamie_raskin) April 27, 2023
Raskin also expressed gratitude to those who offered the congressman gifts during his recovery, particularly those who sent him bandannas and scarves — an accessory the Maryland Democrat became known for over the last few months.
Raskin began wearing bandannas in House votes and committee meetings earlier this year after E Street guitarist Steve Van Zandt. The Maryland Democrat began rocking the headpieces while walking the halls of Congress, noting earlier this year it helps him to “forget” about the cancer.
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The lawmaker also thanked constituents who sent him gifts such as homemade scarves, sweaters, baseball caps, chocolate chip cookies, paintings, letters, and even pea soup. Raskin said he would thank supporters in further detail at a later time, noting he’s “afraid I lack the energy to properly thank you all and express the enormity of my feelings.”
“Right now my hemoglobin and white blood cell counts are plunging from my final five-day round of chemotherapy,” Raskin said. “So another message will be coming soon to you all when I rebound from my still exhausted and immuno-compromised condition. In the meantime, I just want to send you my profound appreciation.”
