Congressman's Kidney Surgery A "Success"

MINNEAPOLIS, MN –Congressman Jim Hagedorn deemed his kidney resection surgery a success at the Mayo Clinic.

Representative Hagedorn (MN-01) underwent the elective procedure to remove his kidney and surrounding cancerous tissues at Rochester’s Mayo Clinic Monday.

According to the Congressman’s wife, Jennifer Carnahan, the performing surgeon said the procedure was a success and Jim is resting comfortably.

“A little over 23 months ago, I was diagnosed with advanced kidney cancer. Ever since, I’ve been receiving immunotherapy at Mayo," Congressman Hagedorn wrote in a statement just prior to his surgery. "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.

Hagedorn was elected in 2018 to represent Minnesota’s First District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He grew up on his family’s grain and livestock farm near Truman. Jim’s father, former U.S. Congressman Tom Hagedorn (MN-02), grandfather, and great-grandfather were all southern Minnesota farmers. Jim currently resides in the rural farming community of Blue Earth.

"The Republican Party of Minnesota sends best wishes today for a speedy recovery to Congressman Jim Hagedorn and Chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan," Republican Party of Minnesota Communications Director Jack Tomczak wrote in a statement Monday. "We have nothing but appreciation and gratitude for the enormous personal sacrifices Congressman Hagedorn and Chairwoman Carnahan have both made over the past two years to fight for the American Dream, while also fighting stage four kidney cancer."

The Congressman said this doesn’t mean he will quit fighting cancer or that he is cured.

“Ultimately, it’s the healing hands of God, the Mayo Clinic, and the innovative immunotherapy that are pulling me through. Special thanks to my doctors, nurses, technicians, and other professionals at Mayo for all their concern and world-class quality care," the Congressman wrote. “And to those enjoying good health, please see your doctor regularly and get those annual cancer screenings. For most, early detection makes a huge difference.”