Former B.C. premier John Horgan has cancer for 3rd time

B.C.'s former premier and Canada's ambassador to Germany, John Horgan, has been diagnosed with cancer for a third time.

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix announced the news on Tuesday.

"My dear friend of a very, very long time and former premier of British Columbia, John Horgan, has had a new diagnosis of cancer," Dix said during a news conference.

In a statement to CBC News on Wednesday, Horgan said "another separate cancer that has proven to be complicated" was discovered after a routine follow up in Berlin for his previous throat cancer.

"I am on leave from my position at the embassy and in hospital receiving immunotherapy to treat this new thyroid cancer," Horgan said.

"It is the third instance of cancer I have had but I remain confident and hopeful that I will again live long and prosper."

Premier David Eby shared his support for Horgan in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter.

"I know these two things: John is a fighter, and all British Columbians are pulling for him to make a speedy recovery," he said.

Opposition Leader Kevin Falcon also took to social media to wish Horgan a "speedy and complete recovery."

The former premier was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2008. He was declared cancer free after surgery and treatment.

Horgan was again diagnosed with cancer in late 2021 when a mass on his throat was found to be cancerous.

He left his post as B.C.'s premier in 2022, saying he couldn't continue as the provincial leader following the "rigorous" cancer treatment, despite being cancer free at the time.