ROCHESTER, Minn.— Congressman Jim Hagedorn underwent surgery at Mayo Clinic to remove a cancerous kidney. His wife Jennifer Carnahan said the procedure was successful and that he was resting comfortably. Hagedorn was diagnosed with advanced kidney cancer in two years ago. He was then in his first term representing Minnesota’s First Congressional District, which spans the state’s southern counties and includes Mankato, Rochester and Winona. Hagedorn a Republican, was re-elected this year.

Pre-op message

From a statement Hagedorn posted online prior to surgery: “Jennifer and I are at the Mayo Clinic this morning for my elective kidney resection surgery. For those wondering if this is good news, it is. A little over 23 months ago, I was diagnosed with advanced kidney cancer. Ever since, I’ve been receiving immunotherapy at Mayo. My body’s response to the innovative treatments has been fantastic. The cancer has been beaten back, degraded, and is localized on the kidney.Because my condition improved so dramatically these past months and my other kidney functions just fine, doctors decided it was time to go in and remove the kidney, and by doing so, extract an estimated 99 percent of the cancer in my body. This doesn’t mean I can quit fighting or am cured, but to make it to this point and be able to work hard and live a full life along the way is a mini-miracle.”