RaúL Grijalva: Rep. Raúl Grijalva dies at 77: What type of cancer did the congressman have? |

Democratic US Representative Raúl Grijalva, who represented Arizona for over 20 years, passed away at 77 due to complications from cancer treatments. Grijalva, diagnosed with lung cancer in April 2024, had been a vigorous advocate for his community. Experts emphasize smoking as the leading cause of lung cancer, with early detection being crucial for better treatment options.

Democratic US Representative Raúl Grijalva, who represented Arizona for more than 20 years, died on Thursday at the age of 77 due to complications from cancer treatments.
“More than two decades ago, Rep. Grijalva embarked on a journey to be a voice for Southern Arizonans in Washington, D.C. Driven by his community values and spirit, he worked tirelessly and accomplished so much — for Arizona and for the country,” his office said in a statement.
The congressman announced his cancer diagnosis in April 2024 and took time away from Capitol Hill to undergo treatment. “A few weeks ago, I sought medical treatment for a persistent cough which was initially diagnosed as pneumonia. After further testing and imaging, my physician discovered that I have cancer,” he said in a statement back then.
What type of cancer did Grijalva have?

After being diagnosed with cancer, Grijalva said that though the ‘diagnosis has been difficult to process’, he is ‘confident in the vigorous course of treatment’ that his medical team has developed, and that he has begun his ‘journey to fight this cancer’. The congressman didn’t initially disclose what type of cancer he had, but later in an interview with the Arizona Daily Star, he was suffering from lung cancer. He also revealed that he has quit smoking, which was his decades-long habit. “One thing that came out of this was good. I quit smoking,” Grijalva told the outlet.
What is lung cancer?

Lung cancer is a type of cancer where abnormal cells grow in an uncontrolled manner in the lungs. It is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer and is responsible for 85% of the cases. Early detection of lung cancer can provide better treatment options, however, most of them are only diagnosed in the advanced stages.

Each year, about 209,000 people in the United States are told they have lung cancer, and about 132,000 people die from this disease, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Symptoms of lung cancer

Prevention
“Not smoking tobacco is the best way to prevent lung cancer,” WHO recommends.
Other risk factors to avoid:

Treatment
According to the CDC, treatment options for lung cancer include:

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