Wounded veteran running for Congress continues after cancer diagnosis

Col. Tom Brewer's campaign to continue during cancer treatment
World-Herald
By Robynn Tysver staff writer
January 12, 2014

ALYSSA SCHUKAR/THE WORLD-HERALD
Col. Tom Brewer said that his cancer was caught early and that his doctors say it is "very treatable," with a high rate of success and remission.

Col. Tom Brewer, who announced a surprising Republican primary challenge to U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith earlier this month, dropped another shocker Saturday.

He has leukemia.

And, Brewer says, he's staying in the race.

Brewer said that the cancer was caught early and that his doctors say it is “very treatable,” with a high rate of success and remission.

He said he was told that the form of cancer he has may be linked to his military service in Afghanistan, where he oversaw the use of herbicides to wipe out opium fields.

“I received confirmation of the cancer from my doctors just a few days before my announcement to run for Congress,” Brewer said in a written statement.

“After consulting with my physicians and family, we made the decision to go forward with the campaign as planned. My doctors are optimistic that the cancer was caught early; it is a very treatable form of leukemia, with a high percentage of success and remission.”

Brewer, 55, served 36 years in the military, with most of those years in the Nebraska National Guard. He has been deployed to Afghanistan six times and seriously wounded twice in ambushes.
read more here