BOISE, ID – Former Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne has been diagnosed with colon cancer, according to a statement released by his family on Monday, March 31.

The diagnosis came as a shock to those close to him. Kempthorne is set to begin chemotherapy immediately and is approaching treatment with determination and faith, supported by his family.

“While no one wants cancer in their life, let me use this situation to urge everyone to be current in their testing and remain vigilant on updates,” Kempthorne said. “I have confidence in the medical community, which has greatly improved cancer treatment. I also want to express great gratitude for the positive thoughts and prayers from so many of you. Throughout my life, I have tackled many challenges head-on. I will do the same with this—which may be the challenge of my lifetime. I hope that sharing this message will help others.”

The Kempthorne family emphasized the importance of early detection, noting that colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States but is often preventable and treatable if caught early. The current recommendation for a first colonoscopy is age 45. More information is available at colorectalcancer.org.

Kempthorne served as Mayor of Boise, U.S. Senator from Idaho, Governor of Idaho, and U.S. Secretary of the Interior. He currently serves as Chair of the USS IDAHO Commissioning Committee Advisory Board and the Peregrine Fund’s Raptor Recovery Program.

His family expressed appreciation for the public’s support during this time.