Good news on cancer for Hogan

Gov. Larry Hogan said recent tests have given him reason to be optimistic about his prognosis for recovery from an aggressive form of cancer.

The governor gave the update just days after publicly announcing he had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

“I had nothing but bad news to report earlier in the week but yesterday I got my results of my bone marrow biopsy which says I’m completely clear, I have no problem in the bone marrow which means I’m at stage 3,” said Hogan, who was sporting a green ribbon symbolizing support for people diagnosed with blood cancers.

The room erupted in applause.

“That’s exactly how I reacted,” Hogan joked.

“I’m at stage three rather than at stage four so it’s much less complicated so while it’s pretty far spread it makes my chances much better and makes it easier to go after this thing.

Hogan said he expects to check into the University of Maryland on Monday to begin four days of chemotherapy — the first of six cycles over the next 18 weeks.

“I have every confidence we’re going to come out on the other side of it,” Hogan said.

Some area cancer specialists agree.

“Most people are cured with chemotherapy,” said Dr. Kevin Cullen, director of the Greenebaum Cancer Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.. “I think the numbers for [Hogan] are quite good.”

Hogan said he has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the public and other elected officials.

“It’s just been incredible. It’s an incredible thing to have this come up and it wasn’t expected but the good part of it is the outpouring of friendship and well-wishes from all across the aisle. Some of our tough critics on the other side have said some pretty nice things. I had a great conversation yesterday with Mike Miller and Mike Busch, the folks we sometimes fight with, and those little squabbles don’t seem so important when you’re facing something like this.”

But not everyone feels the same way about Hogan’s cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

Within hours of Hogan making his announcement to add more money to roads and bridge projects and to move forward with the Purple Line while killing the Red Line project in Baltimore City, one person on Twitter announced he was glad Hogan had lymphoma.

I’m glad larry hogan is dying of cancer

— andy (@lorexecutor) June 25, 2015