By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice
Douglas County Republican Sen. Lisa Frizell has joined the ranks of the more than 5,000 Coloradans who annually receive a breast cancer diagnosis, she told members of the Colorado Senate on Wednesday.
“I’m a really, really private person, and I don’t share this information lightly,” Frizell said.
Her cancer was caught through a routine screening, she said.
“I have a heart of gratitude that my cancer has been caught early,” Frizell said, encouraging those in the chamber and others throughout Colorado to “get a mammogram every year. Do it even though it is inconvenient and intrusive. Do it because it can save your life.”
The decision to publicly announce her diagnosis stemmed from a desire for transparency with her constituents in Colorado’s Senate District 2.
“I am accountable to them and I always want to be transparent,” Frizell said. “Like anyone diagnosed with cancer, it has been [a time] filled with emotion and a seemingly endless barrage of tests.”
Now, Frizell clarified, she will have a fight on two fronts — one on conservative principles in the Colorado Senate and the other related to her personal health.
“I want to be crystal clear that I’m not going to stop fighting for the good people of Senate District 2, while I simultaneously fight this new battle,” she said. “I am not going anywhere, and I’m going to be fine.”
Immediately following her announcement, lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle embraced Frizell and offered their support.
“Thank you for your vulnerability and your strength,” Senate President James Coleman said. “We stand with you. We’re here for you.”
Added House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese and Assistant Minority Leader Ty Winter: “Our hearts are with Sen. Frizell and her family during this difficult time, and we stand beside her in unwavering support. Our prayers and positive thoughts are with her.”