Gov. Mike Dunleavy was recently treated for a mild form of skin cancer, a press release from the governor’s office announced Friday afternoon.
According to the release, “Governor Dunleavy has seen a dermatologist for years as a result of issues stemming from too much exposure to the sun, and periodically he has had skin variations removed and biopsied … that procedure confirmed a basal cell carcinoma – a relatively mild form of skin cancer. As a result, it was removed.”
The release said that the governor’s prognosis was “terrific,” and that the governor and his doctor believe potential risks to have been addressed by the procedure.
The release came after the the governor sent out a tweet Friday saying: “Like many Alaskans, I spend a lot of time in the sun. Out of an abundance of caution, my Dr. removed some questionable areas on my forehead. My staff thought some of my photos looked better touched up. I’m happy to say, I’m in good health. Moral of the story, wear sunscreen.”
The release said that the governor encourages all Alaskans to be health conscious and to treat changes to their skin seriously.
• Contact reporter Peter Segall at 523-2228 or psegall@juneauempire.com.
