Louisville, Ky., Jul 10, 2019 / 11:15 am
Archbishop Joseph Kurtz requested prayers Wednesday as he announced that he has been diagnosed with bladder cancer and will soon undergo treatment. The Archbishop of Louisville announced he will be out of the archdiocese for three months while he receives treatment.
"I have been diagnosed with urothelial carcinoma in my bladder and prostate and will take part in a treatment plan that includes immunotherapy and chemotherapy for at least 12 weeks," said Kurtz in a statement posted on the Archdiocese of Louisville website July 9.
After undergoing chemotherapy, Kurtz said that he will have his bladder and prostate surgically removed. His diagnosis came after several months of health problems and medical tests.
Kurtz, who served as president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2013 to 2016, said that he is "very grateful" to his oncologist Dr. Dan George and the rest of his team at the Duke University Cancer Institute, and that he has "good cause for optimism."