Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar reveals 'scary' breast cancer diagnosis, treatments

Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Former Democratic presidential candidate and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Thursday that she was diagnosed with breast cancer this year -- and is now doing well after medical treatments.

In a blog post to Medium, Klobuchar said the cancer was diagnosed in February and she began radiation treatment three months later. She ultimately underwent a "lumpectomy" in her right breast at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

"In May, I completed a course of radiation treatment, and after additional follow-up visits, it was determined in August that the treatment went well," she wrote.

She said doctors initially found white calcifications during a routine mammogram and a biopsy revealed Stage 1A breast cancer.

"It was determined in August that the treatment went well," she added.

Klobuchar, 61, described her journey as "scary at times" and admitted that she'd delayed having routine physicals and examinations due to COVID-19.

"More than one in three adults reported delaying or forgoing health care because of coronavirus-related concerns," she wrote.

"It's easy to put off health screenings, just like I did. But I hope my experience is a reminder for everyone of the value of routine health checkups, exams, and follow-through."

Health officials recommend that women between 50 and 74 get a mammogram every two years.

Minnesota's senior senator, Klobuchar has been in office since 2007 and chairs the Senate Rules and Administration Committee. She ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination and her campaign lasted for more than a year before she dropped out and endorsed then-candidate Joe Biden.