A smiling Premier John Horgan returned to the legislature on Tuesday, his first public appearance since undergoing radiation treatment for throat cancer.
He spent part of the day celebrating the Lunar New Year — the Year of the Tiger began on Tuesday — stepping outside to pose for photos wearing a dragon-pattern jacket with a red-lantern-bedecked legislature as a backdrop. “To all those celebrating Lunar New Year, I wish you a year of prosperity, good luck, and good health in mind and body,” he said in a statement.
Speaking to reporters, Horgan, 62, said he had lost about 25 pounds due to the radiation treatment, forcing him to have his clothes altered.
He said he could no longer grow a beard. “This jacket was tight on me when we celebrated the Year of the Ox last year, so it’s nice that this fits me again,” he joked. “The hair stopped growing in various parts on my face, so I kept the moustache, as a good battler, it decided to stick around.”
The premier said he feels good overall and is ready to get back to work.
“I’m feeling pretty good. I want to thank the people at the cancer clinic and everyone that I’ve met along the way, starting from admissions at the hospital to the surgery to the post-op to the treatment,” he said.
“Every step of the way, extraordinary people providing care for British Columbians. We need to be proud of the work that they’re doing and we need to celebrate it every day.”
Horgan said in late October that tests had revealed a growth in his throat. He announced in early November that it was cancer. Horgan underwent 35 radiation sessions, which he completed in January.
CHEK News: B.C. Premier John Horgan makes first public appearance since cancer treatment
