DES MOINES — Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and her husband are facing another painful chapter in a cancer battle that began three years ago, announcing Monday that First Gentleman Kevin Reynolds has undergone surgery to remove a brain tumor and is preparing for radiation treatments.
The October 19, 2026 announcement comes after a three-year remission for the First Gentleman, who was first diagnosed with lung cancer in September 2023.
The news brings a deeply personal struggle back into the lives of Iowa’s first family at a time when cancer has become one of the state’s most pressing public health concerns.
Iowa currently has the second-highest rate of newly diagnosed cancer in the United States, with an estimated 21,700 new cases and 6,400 cancer deaths expected statewide during 2026.
For the Reynolds family, however, the latest announcement is not about statistics or public policy. It is about a husband and wife confronting a familiar and frightening illness together.
Cancer returns after three years of remission
According to the Governor’s Office, Kevin Reynolds (pictured at top) is recovering from surgery to remove a tumor from his brain.
He will begin radiation therapy as part of the next phase of treatment.
The First Gentleman was originally diagnosed with lung cancer in September 2023. He previously underwent radiation treatment and immunotherapy before entering remission.
The Governor’s Office has not released additional details about the brain tumor, his current prognosis or the expected duration of treatment.
In a statement issued Monday, Governor Reynolds acknowledged the challenges her family has faced since her husband’s original diagnosis.
“Our family is like many others who experience the highs and lows of navigating a cancer diagnosis over time,” Reynolds said.
She expressed gratitude for the medical professionals who have cared for Kevin since 2023 and who will continue treating him during this latest battle.
Governor Reynolds speaks of faith, hope and 44 years of marriage
Reynolds also reflected on the strength of her marriage and the support of her family.
“Kevin and I are a strong team,” she said.
The couple has been married for 44 years, and the governor said they intend to confront the new diagnosis with the same determination that has carried them through previous challenges.
She emphasized faith, hope and love as the foundation of their response.
The governor also thanked Iowans for their prayers and extended her concern to other families confronting cancer.
“We deeply appreciate the prayers of Iowans during this time,” Reynolds said. “And our prayers for healing are with every family facing cancer.”
Iowa faces one of America’s worst cancer burdens
The First Gentleman’s renewed battle comes as researchers and public health officials continue investigating why Iowa experiences an unusually high number of cancer diagnoses.
According to the University of Iowa’s 2026 Cancer in Iowa report, the state is expected to record approximately 21,700 new cancer diagnoses and 6,400 cancer deaths this year.
Iowa has the nation’s second-highest age-adjusted cancer incidence rate, behind Kentucky.
An estimated 175,290 cancer survivors live in Iowa.
NorthIowaToday.com previously reported on the state’s troubling cancer statistics when the 2025 Iowa Cancer Registry report confirmed Iowa’s second-place national ranking.
Earlier this year, Mason City state Representative Christian Hermanson addressed the state’s ongoing cancer investigation, highlighting the importance of understanding why Iowa’s cancer trends differ from those in much of the country.
State investigation examines possible causes of Iowa’s cancer problem
The Reynolds administration and Iowa lawmakers approved $1 million for research examining the factors contributing to the state’s elevated cancer rates.
As NorthIowaToday.com reported in September, researchers identified smoking, obesity and binge drinking among the important behavioral factors associated with Iowa’s excess cancer incidence.
The study found that demographic and behavioral factors included in its analysis could statistically account for approximately 76% of the excess cancer burden examined.
That does not mean those factors caused 76% of all cancers in Iowa, and researchers continue examining additional environmental and other possible contributors.
Questions involving radon, agricultural chemicals, nitrate-contaminated water and other environmental exposures remain part of the broader public health discussion.
NIT also reported on Iowa’s Farm to Faucet water-quality legislation and concerns involving nitrates and cancer.
Researchers caution that statewide cancer statistics cannot establish what caused an individual person’s illness.
A deeply personal fight for Iowa’s first family
For Governor Reynolds and her husband, the immediate focus now turns to recovery and the next round of cancer treatment.
The couple has not announced any changes to the governor’s official schedule resulting from Kevin’s diagnosis.
The First Gentleman remains under medical care as he recovers from brain surgery and prepares for radiation.
Their family’s announcement is another reminder of how cancer reaches into households across Iowa, regardless of occupation, prominence or political affiliation.
As the state continues searching for answers to its troubling cancer rates, the Reynolds family now faces an intensely personal challenge shared by thousands of Iowans.
The governor says they intend to meet it together, with faith, hope and love.