St Paul  (KROC AM News) - Governor Dayton had a cancer scare earlier this year and now he is encouraging all Minnesotans to be proactive in dealing with the potentially deadly disease.

Dayton was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had the gland removed at Mayo Clinic in March.

He has proclaimed “Cancer Screen Week” through Saturday and is encouraging Minnesotans to talk to their health care providers about risk factors and screening options.

“Getting screened for cancer can greatly improve the chance of early diagnosis, treatment, and recovery,” said Governor Dayton. “It saved my life last December. I encourage all Minnesotans to consult with their doctors about what screening options make sense for them.”

The National Cancer Institute estimates that up to 210,000 deaths in the could be avoided with early and appropriate cancer screening.

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