Dayton says he has prostate cancer, still fit to serve

Gov. Mark Dayton announced Tuesday he has prostate cancer, but maintains he is still fit to serve the remaining two years of his term.

Hours removed from collapsing during his seventh State of the State address, Dayton made the announcement after unveiling his two-year budget proposal. The governor said he will seek medical treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, although it’s unclear what precisely his treatment will involve.

Asked if he would finish out his term, which is scheduled to end in January 2019, Dayton said he would, “Good Lord willing.”

Dayton, who turns 70 this week, collapsed Monday about 40 minutes into his State of the State speech. Constitutional officers, a couple legislators and staff tended to the governor, helped him up and walked him out of the House Chamber. Recalling the event on Tuesday, Dayton said he was unconscious for about five to 10 seconds but recovered afterward.

The prostate cancer diagnosis and Monday’s fainting incident are not related, Dayton said.