Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, announced Monday that he is "100 percent cancer free."
Local station WUSA9 first reported the news, which came nearly five months after Hogan disclosed that he had been diagnosed with late stage 3 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. At the time, the Maryland governor described the disease as "a very advanced and very aggressive" type of cancer.
Hogan delivered remarks on his battle with cancer at a press conference Monday afternoon, thanking his team for their hard work over the last several months and singling out the other "inspiring" patients he met while in the hospital.
"Their optimism, courage, and positive energy was my inspiration, especially the kids," Hogan stated. "It’s because of these fellow patients that I will remain committed to raising awareness."
Hogan added that his new diagnosis marks "merely the end of a chapter" in his fight against the disease. He said that, while his cancer is in complete remission, doctors are cautious about the possibility of it coming back.
Hogan said that the disease did not take away from his work on behalf of the people of Maryland.
"I never even really slowed down, never took a day off," Hogan told the crowd. "I worked even when I was in the hospital."
The Republican governor briefly commented on the recent terror attacks in Paris when asked by a reporter about the carnage and its implications on President Obama’s plan to allow 10,000 refugees from Syria into the U.S. this fiscal year.
In the wake of the Paris attacks, several governors have refused to allow Syrian refugees into their states, citing security concerns.
"I am outraged at the atrocities that took place in Paris," Hogan said Monday. "I support the efforts of France and others to do everything that we can to respond."
"The immigration issue is one that we will be looking at very closely. We’ve been in contact with the Obama administration ... and we’re going to make a very reasoned and careful decision about what we do in Maryland," Hogan further said.