U.S. Rep. John Garamendi Announces Cancer Diagnosis

SACRAMENTO — San Francisco Bay Area Congressman John Garamendi revealed Monday that he is battling a rare blood cancer.

Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, announced his diagnosis in a statement and video posted to social media.

“My wife Patti, who is in charge of the Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program, keeps me on top of screenings and preventative care. It’s common to freeze abnormal lumps, but a call from my doctor changed everything: ‘When are you coming back to California? You need to come in for a series of tests,’” he said.

“This is how my journey with early-stage multiple myeloma, a treatable form of blood cancer, began.”

According to the Cleveland Clinic, multiple myeloma occurs when healthy plasma cells become abnormal and produce abnormal antibodies, leading to medical problems and conditions that can affect the bones, kidneys, and the body’s ability to produce blood cells and platelets.

Garamendi, 79, said he is undergoing chemoimmunotherapy as an outpatient in the Sacramento area.

“Thanks to early detection, excellent doctors, and the love and support of Patti, our entire family, my extraordinary staff, and my colleagues in Congress, I know I will get through this while continuing to serve my constituents and advance American democracy,” he said.

Garamendi said he has a “long list of projects and goals” for his constituents in Contra Costa and Solano counties, and plans to continue working while receiving treatment.

“However, in addition to destroying cancer cells, chemotherapy weakens natural antibodies and the immune system,” he said. “My doctors have advised me to minimize my exposure to COVID-19, the flu and other viruses, so I will limit my travel to Washington and my public events while undergoing treatment.”

Garamendi had a long political career, beginning with his election to the California State Legislature in 1974. In addition to four terms in the State Senate, he served as insurance commissioner from 1991 to 1995 and again from 2003 to 2006.

In 1995, Garamendi was appointed deputy secretary of the Interior by President Bill Clinton. He was later elected lieutenant governor in 2007. Two years later, he won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he is serving his eighth term.

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