Bruce Thompson, the Georgia Commissioner of Labor, said in a statement late Thursday that he has been diagnosed with an advanced case of an often-deadly disease.
Thompson, who lives in Cartersville, said he has been told he has stage four pancreatic cancer, but will remain in office as he battles the illness.
“Yesterday, I was suddenly diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, which has spread to my liver,” he said in a statement he provided to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “While we wait on a final prognosis, I can assure you I will continue to be who I have always been — a fighter. From the start, my life has been full of what seem like insurmountable challenges, but I’ve never given up and this farm boy from Montana doesn’t intend to start now.
“I will continue to fulfill my duties as Labor Commissioner throughout this time and will work with my highly professional and qualified staff to ensure Georgia citizens are served with uninterrupted excellence. I ask that you cover my family, the DOL staff, and me in prayer as we prepare to boldly take on this next battle.”
The disease, which is notoriously hard to detect in its early stages, involves cancer in the tissues of the pancreas, an organ that make juices that help break down food into substances the body can use to make hormones.
While experts say there are some symptoms to hint at the disease, like weight loss or pain in the back, they are not obviously connected to the pancreas and are often ignored or misunderstood until it is too late for successful treatment.
The prognosis and treatment options depend on a number of factors, including whether the tumor can be removed, the patient’s general health, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Well wishes for Thompson poured in Thursday and Friday.
“We ask that all Georgians join us in praying for him and his family during this time as he bravely fights the good fight against this cancer while continuing to serve the people of our state,” Gov. Brian Kemp said in a social media post.
Attorney General Chris Carr posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he and his wife Joan were also praying for Thompson.
“Bruce is a fighter, & we’re grateful for his continued service to our state,” Carr said.
Thompson has been the state’s labor commissioner since January 2023.
Thompson, an insurance agent, entrepreneur and U.S. Army veteran, was a Georgia state senator for a decade before being elected labor commissioner in 2022.
After three-term Labor Commissioner Mark Butler, a Republican, announced he wasn’t seeking re-election, a crowded field of candidates sought to replace him. Butler endorsed Mike Coan, a fellow Republican and a former DOL official, against Thompson, who was sharply critical of Butler’s management of the department during the pandemic.
Thompson easily won the Republican primary and then faced State Rep. William Boddie in the general election. He handily defeated Boddie.
In his first months in office, he reshaped the organization, streamlining middle-level staff while a number of top managers departed. In an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Thompson said many of those who left had been closely associated with his predecessor and he emphasized that much of his top personnel has not changed since he took office.
In his campaign biographies, Thompson cited a number of non-profit organizations with which he had worked, including Hickory Log, a local homeless shelter; Advocates for Children, which provides services for women and children who are victims of abuse and neglect; and Goshen Valley, which offers services and counseling for foster children.
As commissioner, he announced plans for a program aimed at providing guidance and preparation for people who are incarcerated to improve their chances of finding good jobs when they reenter the workforce.
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