Arizona senator who lost son to overdose last year says she has cancer

PHOENIX — Arizona Sen. Christine Marsh announced in a Facebook post on Thursday that she has been diagnosed with cancer.

She said in the post that it has been a very difficult year for her as she is still coping with the death of her 25-year-old son from an overdose last year after he ingested a pill he thought was Percocet but was tainted with fentanyl.

She added we’re still dealing with a global pandemic and there have been droughts, fires and floods.

“So, perhaps it should come as no surprise that life had another challenge in store for me,” Marsh said in the post.

Marsh said she had successful surgery last week and the pathology report is favorable.

“I will still need follow-up chemo but I’m alive, I’m a fighter and I will persevere,” Marsh said.

“After facing my absolute worst fear of losing a child, everything else seems manageable.”

Marsh, a Democrat representing the state’s 28th Legislative District that covers Arcadia and parts of central Phoenix, Paradise Valley, the Biltmore area and Sunnyslope, said she would continue her work from home since the legislature is not in session.

Also a teacher, Marsh said in the post she wasn’t sure when she would return to the classroom.

Marsh was relieved she followed health recommendations and went in for a routine screening, even with no family history or symptoms of cancer.

“That early diagnosis surely made a difference in my excellent prognosis, and I passionately encourage everyone to get recommended screenings/tests/scans,” she said.

Following the death of her son, Marsh put forth a bill that legalized fentanyl test strips and removed the product from the state’s definition of prohibited drug paraphernalia.

Senate Bill 1486 was signed into law by Republican Gov. Doug Ducey in May.

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