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As He Undergoes Chemo, Maryland Governor Touts Baldness

Gov. Larry Hogan is sporting a new bald look as he undergoes chemotherapy treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

hogan_bald
(Courtesy of Larry Hogan's Facebook)
By Tim Pratt

Gov. Larry Hogan is sporting a new bald look as he undergoes chemotherapy treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The governor posted a photo of his new look Tuesday morning on Facebook.

"It looks like there is another white dome in the Annapolis State House!" he said. "Thanks to my treatments, I'm sporting a new aerodynamic look."

Hogan said he doesn't need need to wash or comb his hair, or shave his face.

"I may be losing hair follicles, but I'm winning the battle as we kill cancer cells like crazy," he said. "So yes -- the new look is a bit of a shock at first, but to me, bald is beautiful! #HoganStrong"

The governor's hair loss comes after he finished his second round of chemotherapy on Thursday. Hogan announced he had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in late June. The diagnosis came after the governor found a lump in his neck the night before taking a trip to Asia.

Doctors later determined it was stage 3 of the cancer, meaning the governor's bone marrow was cancer free. This made his prognosis even better, as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma responds to aggressive chemotherapy treatments.

In his social media updates, Hogan has said his doctors are impressed with his recovery. There was speculation that the governor would take a more back seat role as he recovered, with Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford running the ship when necessary.

Rutherford has appeared for Hogan at board meetings and public events, but Hogan has made it clear that he continues to work.

Photos  on Facebook show him working in the hospital and taking press calls. The governor has told reporters that he works as much as he can while undergoing chemotherapy. Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford.

Before the bald unveiling on Tuesday, the governor had been wearing a baseball cap in his Facebook photos and during some government meetings.

Tuesday's announcement may mean the baseball cap is staying home.

"I'm saving time not having to wash or comb my hair, and I don't even need to shave my face!" the governor wrote on Facebook Tuesday.

"The First Lady says I'm still sexy."

(c)2015 The Capital (Annapolis, Md.)

 

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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