State Rep. Deb Mell Has Breast Cancer
By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 14, 2012 1:55PM
Illinois State Rep. Deborah Mell announced that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Mell told Windy City Times Tracy Baim the cancer is Stage 1 and she's seeking expert advice on treatment.
"I am very grateful for my wife, Christin, my family and friends and especially the radiology team at Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Center at Northwestern who found the cancer," Mell said. "I will continue to serve my constituents, and hope for a speedy recovery."
The daughter of 33rd Ward Ald. Dick Mell, sister of Patti Blagojevich and sister-in-law of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Deb Mell was elected representative of the 40th District in 2008. One of three openly gay members of the Illinois General Assembly, she married her wife Christin Baker in Iowa last August, was one of the sponsors of Illinois' Civil Unions Law and is a sponsor of same-sex marriage legislation currently under consideration in Springfield. Mell is on the boards of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s advisory council for human relations and U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley’s LGBT advisory council.
Mell took to Twitter to thank her supporters for their well wishes.
I am so grateful for all the well wishes and kind words, especially the messages from women who are dealing with this disease.
— Deborah Mell (@debmell) June 14, 2012For me, I feel good and blessed, doctors caught it very early and I am surrounded by great people, a loving wife, and a strong faith.
— Deborah Mell (@debmell)