The Latest: Minnesota governor doesn't link cancer, fainting
By Associated Press
Jan 24, 2017 12:31 PM CST
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton gives his annual state of the state Address in the House Chambers of the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minn., Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. Dayton later collapsed while delivering the state of the state address. The 69-year-old Democratic governor appeared conscious as he was helped...   (Associated Press)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Latest on Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton's health (all times local):

12:30 p.m.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton says he doesn't think his diagnosis with prostate cancer is connected with his collapse during his State of the State address.

Dayton said at a news conference Tuesday that a biopsy last week confirmed the cancer. But he said he doesn't feel any discomfort from it and there's no indication the cancer has spread.

He says he'll meet with doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester next week to discuss his treatment options, which might include surgery or radiation.

Dayton will also travel to Mayo on Tuesday afternoon for tests to determine why he fainted during his speech Monday night. He says he felt fine until the very end, then collapsed before he could do anything.

He joked that he learned his speech was too long.

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12:10 p.m.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton says he's been diagnosed with prostate cancer but will finish the final two years of his term.

Dayton made the announcement Tuesday, just a day after collapsing while delivering his State of the State address.

The 69-year-old Democrat says he'll travel to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester on Tuesday afternoon to for tests on why he fainted. He'll return to Mayo next week to discuss his prostate cancer treatment options.

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11:25 a.m.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton is outlining his proposed budget for legislators just a day after collapsing while delivering his State of the State address.

Dayton said he would talk about his health after going over the budget. He occasionally paused as he spoke Tuesday.

After going through introductory remarks, the 69-year-old Democrat turned the briefing over to his budget commissioner and took a seat to listen. The governor usually stands on such occasions.

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12:10 a.m.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton is planning to keep to his normal schedule Tuesday after collapsing during his State of the State address.

The 69-year-old Democrat fainted as he neared the end of his annual speech Monday night. He appeared conscious as he was helped to a back room minutes later. A top staffer said he walked out of the Capitol on his own and was given a routine check by medical professionals at his home.

Chief of Staff Jaime Tincher says Dayton will proceed with his plans to unveil a budget proposal Tuesday morning.

Nearing his 70th birthday, Dayton has a history of health problems. He fainted during a campaign event last year in an episode he later blamed on overheating and dehydration.

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