Fla. Congresswoman Fought Cancer In Secret

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz Underwent Treatments For Breast Cancer While Maintaining Busy Schedule As A Top House Democrat

(AP)  Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz hated relying too much on her staff, but she needed them to keep up appearances during her undercover battle against cancer.

After several major surgeries, including a double mastectomy, she couldn't even carry her own papers in the Capitol. Staff even helped her look cheerful when she hosted a fundraiser for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

``I was hooked up to drains and I had a pain pack coming out of my chest, which I hid with clothing and ingenious staff work on a purse,'' the Florida Democrat said, adding with a laugh, ``I hugged people gingerly.''

She handled her cancer the way she handles her job: taking on tasks gracefully, winning respect from colleagues from both parties.

But she said protecting her children 9-year-old boy and girl twins, and another 5-year-old girl came first. She would keep it a secret from her three children, too.

``Once I heard my doctors out and what the recommended course of treatment was, I really felt like it was best for my kids that I get all the way through it, deal with it privately and then when I was done with everything I would be able to share with them why Mommy had surgery and show them that I was going to be OK,'' Wasserman Schultz said.

Still only 42 and considered a rising star in Democratic politics, she is chief deputy whip in the House and a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee. She frequently represents her party on national TV and heads a subcommittee that oversees funding for her legislative branch.

She also was very visible in the presidential campaigns of Sen. Hillary Clinton, and then Barack Obama.

``It's pretty amazing when people realize that she was already one of the hardest working people they knew and then to realize underneath, all this was going on in the background,'' said Rep. Melissa Bean, D-Ill., who shares a Washington apartment with Wasserman Schultz.

The congresswoman was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2007. She had the lump removed, but then tests showed a genetic mutation that put her at high risk for a recurrence of breast or ovarian cancer. So she scheduled additional surgeries, including the double mastectomy and having her ovaries removed. The last surgery was in December.

``It was just like every other thing she puts on her plate 'I'm going to do this, I'm going to get through it' always positive,'' Bean said.

Many politicians prominently hang news articles and photos of election victories and major bill signings. The largest frame in her office lobby holds a National Journal cover story titled ``Member Moms'' about her and other congresswomen who balance their jobs and motherhood. Inside her office, her kids' paintings take up a huge space on the wall.

``I start with taking care of my kids and my family and I structure my professional life around that. That comes first,'' she told The Associated Press in an interview three weeks before she made her cancer announcement.

Other than family and close friends, she mentioned her health only to staffers who needed to know and two House colleagues, Bean and Rep. Ron Klein, a friend she served with in the Florida Senate.

She scheduled her surgeries when the House was on break.

``Walking down the hall, it hurt to even carry a folder, so I had to have my staff, which I hate doing because I'm very self-sufficient,'' she said.

Beyond protecting her children, there was another big reason why she kept her ordeal secret.

``I just didn't want it to define me. When I'm quoted in the newspaper, I didn't want to be 'Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who's battling breast cancer,''' she said. ``I wanted to be viewed as a congresswoman, as a mom, as a fighter.''

At the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee she serves as a vice chair in charge of member retention.

``She's very focused on working with us to try to push our agenda for change forward both on the policy front as well as the political front,'' said Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, who chairs the DCCC. ``Her hard work has been recognized and that's why she's been asked to take on additional responsibilities, here at the DCCC as well as the DNC.''

That's another reason she kept her ordeal hidden, Bean said.

``Lovingly, people might have said, 'Let's not ask her to do that,''' Bean said. ``She didn't want that level of protection. She thought, 'I'll decide what I can do and what I can't.'''

Her husband, Steve Schultz, said he wouldn't have told her to slow down while dealing with the cancer.

``She has a drive that she wants to go and work and work real hard and work a lot of hours and get it done. Who am I to say, 'Hey, no. You can't do that,''' he said.

And now she's taking on a new mission: Educating young women about breast cancer. She filed a bill that would direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to start a national education program aimed at women under 40 and doctors who see them.

``I know it's going to save lives, because there's going to be someone who hadn't thought about doing a self-exam who, hearing that story, is going to say 'Wow! I better pay more attention,''' Bean said.

[khanghi-2009]

Gee stopneofatbs...

I sure hope you don't care if anyone takes you seriously.
(unless of course your talking about moronic, simpleminded buffoonery!)

[khanghi-2009]

anti_zionist_007

Wow! There are still people like you left in the world? I thought your cowardly dad shot himself in the head in some bunker at the end of WWII? Oh well...a little roach spray should do it.

[janareader]

I knew she was a strong lady... I have seen her on TV interviews holding her own with opposite view points and doing absolutely fabulous. She has a head on her shoulders and knows how to use it.. Florida should be proud. I understand her attitude for her privacy and applaud her for it and her obviously faithful staff.

[clancy49]

The choices people make are choices for them. Keeping this a secret was her decision. She obviously beat the cancer for now. This is a great human interest story, I think. I just wonder, if she kept it a secret for so long, why tell everybody now? None of us are going to leave this world alive. If it is a big secret why not keep it a big secret. I mean that was the choice wasn't it?

[khanghi-2009]

tmittelstaed

While I'm sure most who read your comments will simple see you as an idiot, I'm a little more compassionate as I, too, am a cancer survivor.
(stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma of the periform sinus -or- throat cancer)

I underwent a radical neck dissection, chemotherapy and seven weeks of radiation.

AND

I didn't tell my kids until I was sure of the what, how, and when of the disease either. My guess is that you either don't have kids or thought someone else could fight your battle for you.

I'm a little surprised by your comments since most I know who have beat this disease have learned alot about human nature. I'm sorry you missed that part.

PS - Today is my FOUR YEAR "BIRTHDAY" CANCER FREE!

[jxknowles]

What a truly remarkable story about a truly remarkable person. People who are quick to lump all politicians into one bundle should take note. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is an inspiration to all. I knew i liked her a lot before I read this story. I'm astonished by her courage and strength. She is one in a billion. Please donate to Breast Cancer Research to save moms, wives, grandmothers, daughters, aunts, friends and best of all, people who put the country's interest ahead of their own.

[excoachken]

A wonderful story about a wonderful person. Florida is lucky to have her representation in Washington!

[chemteacher7]

Wow, tmittelstaed, I don't see anything in this article that indicates a phobia. It clearly states:

Beyond protecting her children, there was another big reason why she kept her ordeal secret.
``I just didn't want it to define me. When I'm quoted in the newspaper, I didn't want to be 'Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who's battling breast cancer,''' she said.

I am very impressed that she was able to keep up her workload while dealing with this. I don't know if I could do it.

Oh, and I would say that to her very young children, she is truly "irreplaceable."

[alhixson01]

You are my hero. My best friend died just over 5 years ago from cancer and I know the pain she endured with her treatments. I know that many times she would smile and laugh with everyone but would be in tremendous pain. She too tried to keep up appearances for her family and friends. Only a few got to see the real pain. I admire you and I just sent up a prayer that all continues to go well for you. God bless you.

[tmittelstaed]

As a cancer survivor myself (4 ounds of chemo, several surgeries) I will say that I am glad she isn't my congressperson. Someone who would hide something like that obviously has a phobia on relying on other people to help her - in other words, she believes everyone around her is an incompetent fool and that only she is smart enough or gifted enough to do her job. Well lady, I got news for you, nobody's irreplaceable. Unless you lose that attitude, your going to end up very lonely in life.
What your seeing is the Democratic version of Sarah Palin, same attitude, different party.