The Minister for Finance is back at his desk this morning after revealing he has been treated for cancer.
Michael Noonan revealed last night that he has undergone surgery to remove a cancerous growth from his shoulder.
Minister Noonan had been making regular trips to Brussels in the last few weeks, as well as appearing at Fine Gael campaign events before the European elections.
So many were taken by surprise when the 71 year old minister revealed he had also undergone five weeks of radiotherapy in March and April to treat a cancerous growth on his shoulder.
The sarcoma, a type of malignant growth, was removed last Wednesday at Cappagh Hospital in Finglas, around a month after the minister had undergone five weeks of radiotherapy at St Luke's in Rathgar to shrink it.
He was discharged from hospital on Saturday and the minister's medical team are upbeat about his prognosis, saying his risk of recurrence is low and there's no damage to his shoulder muscles.
The minister's thanked the staff at the two hospitals for their care and says he'll stay on as Minister for Finance as long as the Taoiseach wants him there.
