Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll officially announced on her website late last night that she has a rare form of cancer. Aides said this morning that she was feeling sluggish and tired in June and decided to visit her doctor. There, she underwent X-rays and was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer.
Her chief of staff, Salvatore M. Sirabella, said he did not know how advanced the cancer was, or whether it had spread to other parts of her body. He said more tests will be performed in the next few weeks to determine that.
However, Sirabella said she has undergone radiation and is on her second round of chemotherapy. He said she is feeling good, and wants to return to work soon. A return date has not yet been set.
"She is as feisty as ever," said Sirabella of Knoll, 77.
Added Knoll in a statement: "I fully expect to conduct my duties as Lieutenant Governor ... The next two years in Pennsylvania are going to be exciting as the Governor follows through with his agenda on education, the environment and the economy. I intend to be right there to help him."
Sirabella said Knoll had a conversation with Gov. Rendell by phone shortly after she was diagnosed, but it was unclear this morning whether she told Rendell at the time that she had cancer.
Sirabella said Knoll wanted to keep her illness private because she has a very large family and wanted to make sure that her relatives knew before news of it hit the papers.
She apparently put out a statement on her website last night after reporters began calling her office to inquire about her health.
