Several Democratic presidential candidates responded with support to the news that former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenBiden says voters should choose who nominates Supreme Court justice Trump, Biden will not shake hands at first debate due to COVID-19 Joe Biden should enact critical government reforms if he wins MORE’s presidential campaign press secretary is facing a cancer diagnosis.

“Some upsetting news to share & explanation for why I’ve been MIA recently: after a bunch of tests, I’ve been diagnosed w/ metastatic lung cancer. Which sucks a lot. I’m starting treatment Monday, & my doctors — who have been incredible — believe we can get this into remission,” TJ Ducklo, Biden’s press secretary, tweeted Saturday.

Some upsetting news to share & explanation for why I’ve been MIA recently: after a bunch of tests, I’ve been diagnosed w/ metastatic lung cancer. Which sucks a lot. I’m starting treatment Monday, & my doctors — who have been incredible — believe we can get this into remission. 1/ — TJ Ducklo (@TDucklo) December 21, 2019

ADVERTISEMENT

Biden shared his campaign staffer’s tweet, writing, “TJ: Stay strong. Me, Jill, and the whole Biden family are with you. Not just in spirit — for anything. You have the right attitude. You are going to beat this and when you do, we are going to be there to celebrate. Love you, and we're here with you.”

TJ: Stay strong



Me, Jill, and the whole Biden family are with you. Not just in spirit — for anything.



You have the right attitude. You are going to beat this and when you do, we are going to be there to celebrate. ⁰



Love you, and we're here with you. https://t.co/syLzkYH76Y — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) December 21, 2019

Biden’s son Beau Biden died in 2015 after battling brain cancer. The Biden Cancer Initiative was founded in 2017 as an offshoot of the Obama administration’s Cancer Moonshot program. The nonprofit shut down earlier this year.

ADVERTISEMENT

Fellow presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker Cory Anthony BookerSunday shows preview: Lawmakers prepare for SCOTUS confirmation hearings before election The movement to reform animal agriculture has reached a tipping point Watchdog confirms State Dept. canceled award for journalist who criticized Trump MORE (D-N.J.) responded to Ducklo’s message with a video, saying, “I heard about a really tough diagnosis that you got today, and I just wanted to let you know that you are a tough guy and you’re going to kick this and fight it, and I respect you a lot. You work for a tough guy too, so just know that a lot of us around this country, as much as a lot is going on, we’re thinking about you, sending you great energy.”

“This Jersey boy is sending you strength. I’m looking forward to seeing you along the trail, and I know, again, that at the end of this trial, you will be triumphant,” Booker continued.

TJ, I just heard about your diagnosis. Please know that a lot of us across this country are thinking about you. Sending you good energy and looking forward to seeing you out on the trail. pic.twitter.com/T5zp1eTQNl — Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) December 22, 2019

Entrepreneur Andrew Yang Andrew YangBiden's latest small business outreach is just ... awful Doctor who allegedly assaulted Evelyn Yang arrested on federal charges The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden weighs in on police shootings | Who's moderating the debates | Trump trails in post-convention polls MORE also responded to Ducklo’s message, tweeting, “Oh no. All the best to you and your family TJ. You can beat this. Thinking of you and yours. The country will be here for you when you come back strong in the days ahead.”

Oh no. All the best to you and your family TJ. You can beat this. Thinking of you and yours. The country will be here for you when you come back strong in the days ahead. — Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) December 22, 2019

South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegBillionaire who donated to Trump in 2016 donates to Biden The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November Buttigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice MORE’s official campaign Twitter account wrote, “All of us at @PeteForAmerica are here for our friends on Team @JoeBiden—and we’re rooting for you, TJ.”

All of us at @PeteForAmerica are here for our friends on Team @JoeBiden—and we’re rooting for you, TJ. — Team Pete HQ (@PeteForAmerica) December 21, 2019

Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenOvernight Defense: Appeals court revives House lawsuit against military funding for border wall | Dems push for limits on transferring military gear to police | Lawmakers ask for IG probe into Pentagon's use of COVID-19 funds On The Money: Half of states deplete funds for Trump's 0 unemployment expansion | EU appealing ruling in Apple tax case | House Democrats include more aid for airlines in coronavirus package Warren, Khanna request IG investigation into Pentagon's use of coronavirus funds MORE’s (D-Mass.) campaign Twitter shared, “Team Warren is thinking of you and we have your back.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Team Warren is thinking of you and we have your back. — Team Warren (@TeamWarren) December 21, 2019

A slew of campaign reporters and fellow press secretaries also responded to Ducklo’s message, sharing supportive messages of strength.

i’m so sorry TJ. pulling for you, along with everyone else in the world of politics and journalism — John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) December 21, 2019

ADVERTISEMENT

Praying and rooting for you in this fight. You will win. — Ian Sams (@IanSams) December 21, 2019

I’m sorry, TJ. Kick cancer’s ass. — Michelle Ye Hee Lee (@myhlee) December 22, 2019

TJ, so sorry to hear but you’ve got this. I look forward to working with you for many years. — Eliza Collins (@elizacollins1) December 21, 2019

ADVERTISEMENT

You are stronger than you know!!!!!!! — Brittany Shepherd (@blrshepherd) December 21, 2019

— Katie Rogers (@katierogers) December 21, 2019

Ducklo added that he will continue working through his treatment, thanking the Biden campaign as well as Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, “for having my back.”