TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida's first lady has been diagnosed with breast cancer, according to a Monday morning statement from the governor's office.
Casey DeSantis and Gov. Ron DeSantis have been married since September 2010.
SPECIAL SECTION: Breast Cancer Awareness
The governor called his wife's diagnosis "the most difficult test of her life," but said she would have his and their entire family's "unwavering support."
Before their marriage, the first lady was a former television news reporter and anchor in Jacksonville. She also worked for the PGA Tour as a producer and on-air host.
Casey DeSantis, 41, has helped launched multiple state initiatives since her husband took office in 2019.
Many of those programs have focused on uniting communities, helping single parents, addressing the stigma surrounding mental health and encouraging kindness and empathy through mentoring and volunteerism.
She and the governor have three children named Madison, 4, Mason, 3, and 18-month-old Mamie.
A native of Troy, Ohio, Casey DeSantis graduated from the College of Charleston where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics.
No other details about her diagnosis have been released.
The governor released the following statement about his wife:
"I am saddened to report that Florida's esteemed First Lady and my beloved wife has been diagnosed with breast cancer. As the mother of three young children, Casey is the centerpiece of our family and has made an impact on the lives of countless Floridians through her initiatives as First Lady. As she faces the most difficult test of her life, she will have not only have my unwavering support but the support of our entire family, as well as the prayers and well wishes from Floridians across our state. Casey is a true fighter, and she will never, never, never give up."
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women, according to the nonprofit Breastcancer.org.
It's estimated that about one in eight U.S. women, about 13 percent, will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime.
October is breast cancer awareness month, an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of the disease.
