Rep. Lamborn is now ‘cancer-free’ after procedure to remove melanoma

Rep. Doug Lamborn, of Colorado’s 5th Congressional District, had melanoma, which was removed by a team of doctors without incident, according to a statement released Monday. 

“It was removed completely and he’s cancer-free,” Cassandra Sebastian, Lamborn’s communications director, said. She said it was removed “recently.”

“I am grateful to my team of doctors, and their staff, for their professionalism and the excellent care I received during this process,” Lamborn said in the statement. “Unfortunately, the mountain landscape that we all know and love in Colorado, with its high altitude and plentiful sunshine, accelerates the rate at which damage is caused by the sun. A skin check by a dermatologist often only takes a few minutes, but it is a critical part of identifying skin cancer early.”

When asked when Lamborn received the melanoma diagnosis, Sebastian wrote to Newsline, “Due to HIPAA privacy concerns, I’m not going to be able to pass along that information.”

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, “only covers what information specific healthcare-related entities can share about you without your consent,” according to the L.A. Times. 

HIPAA would not apply to Sebastian providing the date of Lamborn’s melanoma diagnosis. Covered entities include health plans, health care clearinghouses and health care providers, according to the Department of Health and Human Services website. 

Melanoma is the most invasive skin cancer with the highest risk of death, according to the Cleveland Clinic website. “While it’s a serious skin cancer, it’s highly curable if caught early. Prevention and early treatment are critical, especially if you have fair skin, blonde or red hair and blue eyes.”

It was recommended to Lamborn that he have a biopsy done of a suspicious sunspot, which was determined to be melanoma, after a recent routine check-up at the dermatologist, according to the statement. 

“I encourage all of my constituents, young and old, to wear sunscreen and make sure they get checked regularly by a qualified physician,” Lamborn, who has recovered from the procedure, said.