Noonan back at desk after revealing treatment for cancer
Finance Minister Michael Noonan is back at his desk this morning and is expected to take leaders questions in the Dáil later, after he revealed last night that he had been treated for cancer.
The 71-year-old completed five weeks of radiotherapy for a sarcoma on his shoulder, and underwent surgery to remove it.
Michael Noonan had been making regular trips to Brussels in the last few weeks, as well as appearing at Fine Gael campaign events before the European elections.
Many were therefore taken by surprise when he revealed he had undergone five weeks of radiotherapy in March and April to treat a cancerous growth on his shoulder.
The sarcoma - a type of malignant growth - was removed last Wednesday at Cappagh Hospital in Finglas, around a month after the minister had undergone five weeks of radiotherapy at St Luke's in Rathgar to shrink it.
The Minister said his medical team was upbeat about his prognosis, and believed there was little chance of a recurrence.
Mr Noonan thanked staff at the two hospitals for their care, and said he would stay on as Minister for Finance as long as the Taoiseach wanted him to do so.
