Gov. Collapses During Speech, Reveals Cancer Diagnosis

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton says he plans to finish his term
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 24, 2017 1:50 PM CST
Gov. Collapses During Speech, Reveals Cancer Diagnosis
Minnesota Lt. Governor Tina Smith, right, and Secretary of State Steve Simon, left, help Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton after he collapsed during his State of the State address in St. Paul, Minn., Monday, Jan. 23, 2017.   (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP)

A day after collapsing at the end of this State of the State address, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton revealed he has prostate cancer, ABC News reports. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the 69-year-old Dayton was 45 minutes into the speech Monday night when he started slurring his words and passed out. He was caught as he fell but hit his head on the lectern. He wasn't taken to the hospital, and his chief of staff says he "quickly recovered.. ... and returned home." Dayton says he felt fine right up until he fainted, the AP reports.

On Tuesday, Dayton announced he was diagnosed with prostate cancer last week. He says he isn't in any pain and isn't sure fainting Monday had anything to do with the cancer. Instead, he joked the problem was the length of his speech, promising that "next year it will be shorter." Dayton was set to meet with doctors Tuesday to figure out why he passed out and again next week to discuss cancer treatment options, which include surgery or radiation. He says he plans to finish the remaining two years of his term. (More Mark Dayton stories.)

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