Ruth Bader Ginsburg just had surgery to remove cancerous tumors, and here’s what we know

Less than two months after Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg broke three ribs in a November 7th fall, she is back in the hospital, according to new reports. This time, the Supreme Court justice has undergone surgery for lung cancer. CNN reports that Ginsburg had two cancerous growths removed from her lungs today, December 21st, at a hospital in New York.  Doctors at the hospital performed a lobectomy, a procedure to remove part of the lung. In a statement obtained by CNN, the Supreme Court wrote that the nodules had been discovered when Ginsburg was hospitalized after her November fall. The court noted that the thoracic surgeon who operated on Ginsburg discovered that the growths were malignant post-surgery. According to the statement  “there was no evidence of any remaining disease” after today’s operation.

"Scans performed before surgery indicated no evidence of disease elsewhere in the body," the statement concluded. "Currently, no further treatment is planned. Justice Ginsburg is resting comfortably and is expected to remain in the hospital for a few days. Updates will be provided as they become available."

At age 85, Ginsburg is currently the oldest justice on the Supreme Court. In July, she said that she hoped to remain on the bench for five more years. Thankfully, NPR reports that doctors say that as long as Ginsburg does not experience complications during her recovery, she should be able to heal completely.

Short of complications in recovery, doctors say prospects look good for a full recovery for Ginsburg, 85. She hopes to be back on the court for the start of the new term in early January. https://t.co/Y5SSnzrU3U

— Nina Totenberg (@NinaTotenberg) December 21, 2018

This isn’t the justice’s first battle with cancer. According to NPR, she underwent treatment for colorectal cancer in 1999 and pancreatic cancer in 2009. Clearly, Ginsburg is one tough lady.

We’re sending Ginsburg all our well wishes for a safe and speedy recovery, and we’ll update this story as more information emerges.