Bob Dole announces he has stage 4 lung cancer

Former Republican senator and presidential nominee Bob Dole announced on Thursday that he has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.

In a statement, the 97-year-old said he will begin treatment on Monday. "While I certainly have some hurdles ahead, I also know that I join millions of Americans who face significant health challenges of their own," he added.

Dole served in the Army during World War II, and was seriously wounded in battle. He nearly died from his injuries, and was left with limited mobility in his right arm. Dole represented Kansas in the Senate from 1969 to 1996, and served as both majority and minority leader. In the 1976 election, he was Gerald Ford's running mate. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1997 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2018.

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