Representative Steve Scalise, Republican of Louisiana and the bulk chief, mentioned Tuesday he had been identified with a uncommon type of blood most cancers however deliberate to return to Washington to proceed working as he undergoes therapy over the subsequent a number of months.

Mr. Scalise, 57, mentioned in an announcement that he had begun therapy for a number of myeloma, which he described as “a very treatable blood cancer,” after feeling in poor health over the August congressional recess and having checks that led to his prognosis.

It got here at a essential second for Mr. Scalise, who is understood for his potential to talk to the hard-right faction of the fractured Republican convention and has a pivotal function to play within the House within the coming months, with Congress dealing with the potential for a authorities shutdown on Oct. 1. Lawmakers stay removed from reaching any settlement on spending ranges that may hold the federal government working on a long-term foundation. The House left Washington final month for a six-week summer time recess nowhere close to a deal on 11 of the 12 appropriations payments that also should be handed, hamstrung by internal divisions over spending and social issues.

Mr. Scalise, who beforehand served because the Republican whip, is predicted to play a vital function in negotiating with members of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus, who’re threatening to pressure a shutdown until their priorities are addressed.

Mr. Scalise was gravely wounded in 2017 when a gunman opened hearth on members of the Republican congressional baseball workforce at a observe area in Alexandria, Va. He was shot within the hip and underwent many surgical procedures to relearn learn how to stroll, regaining nearly full mobility.

“I am incredibly grateful we were able to detect this early and that this cancer is treatable,” Mr. Scalise mentioned in an announcement on Tuesday. “I will tackle this with the same strength and energy as I have tackled past challenges.”

Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who has had a strained relationship with Mr. Scalise, mentioned in an announcement that he had spoken along with his No. 2 on Tuesday and located him to be in good spirits.

“Nothing — not a gunshot wound and certainly not cancer — will stop him from accomplishing what he sets his mind to,” Mr. McCarthy, the California Republican, mentioned in an announcement.

In a number of myeloma, sure wholesome blood cells turn into cancerous, throwing off irregular proteins that may trigger issues and crowd out cells wanted to struggle infections.

A comparatively unusual most cancers, it’s estimated to be identified in about 35,000 individuals within the United States yearly, extra typically affecting males and Black individuals. About 60 p.c of sufferers identified with a number of myeloma lately survived the results of their most cancers for at the very least 5 years, although the survival price is dependent upon how far the most cancers has unfold.

Patients can face extra frequent infections and bone and kidney issues, however there are a selection of therapy choices that depend upon how shortly the most cancers is rising. Those embody immunotherapy, which helps the physique’s immune system assault most cancers cells, chemotherapy and corticosteroids.

Some sufferers are additionally candidates for a stem cell transplant. Drug therapy is first used to scale back the variety of cancerous cells within the physique after which unhealthy blood-forming stem cells are changed by wholesome ones.

Those therapies can vary from tolerable to grueling. The most typical facet impact is fatigue, docs mentioned, debilitating some sufferers at the same time as others are capable of hold working full-time. Patients already in poor coronary heart well being are particularly inclined to feeling exhausted.

Treatments that suppress sufferers’ immune methods additionally depart them susceptible to infections that themselves can require immediate therapy. Immunotherapy medication typically carry a danger of painful nerve injury, and chemotherapy may cause nausea and mouth sores, although docs can prescribe drugs to handle some unwanted effects.

On Tuesday, Republicans have been fast to supply Mr. Scalise their public help and spotlight his resilience.

“Steve is as tough and kind as they come, and he has beaten so many unbeatable odds,” Representative Elise Stefanik, Republican of New York, mentioned in an announcement. “We know he will fight this next battle with that same resolve.”

“Steve is a fighter, and we stand with him as he enters this latest battle,” Representative Patrick T. McHenry, Republican of North Carolina, mentioned in an announcement.