Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with new information and a statement from State Senator Greg Kirk.

TIFTON — State Senator Greg Kirk is currently in outpatient hospice care, according to a statement from Kirk.

“As with any cancer treatment, therapy is ongoing. As I continue therapy, I am in outpatient hospice care for pain management. With the exception of the continued therapy for my liver – vital signs and labs have leveled to normal, ” said Kirk. “I have every intention of serving in the upcoming legislative session and I have every intention of running for re-election in 2020.”

Kirk was diagnosed with bile duct cancer earlier this year.

In a November update posted to his Facebook page, Kirk said that many of the tumors were “gone or shrunk.”

“We are grateful for all the thoughts, prayers, and outpouring of support for my family and myself since the onset of the…diagnosis,” Kirk said in the statement. “Prayer is powerful – we are thankful to Dr. Jani, [a specialist oncologists with Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital based in Albany] and Dr. Akce [a specialist oncologists with Emory] who have tireless helped with targeted liver cancer treatment therapy. 

“I am proud to say that we have the best care in Georgia than anywhere in America and we are thankful that much of the initial diagnosis has subsided,” Kirk continued. “I am a fighter. I have fought for my district, our community, and our great state of Georgia. I have authored and passed legislation all five years that I have had the honor to serve in our state senate. I will continue to fight cancer and will continue to fight for our district.”

“I told everyone to keep him and his family in your prayers,” said State Representative John Corbett. “Keep Rosalyn and his family in your prayers. This time of year, they need your prayers as he goes through this battle.”

“Thank you for your continued support, thoughts and prayers for my family and myself,” Kirk said in the release. “As we celebrate this Christmas remembering Christ’s birth and His blessings, our family wishes you God’s blessings and a Merry Christmas.”

During study committee meetings in Americus and Atlanta Dec. 18, Corbett and State Sen. Brandon Beach made note of Kirk’s health status before commencing committee meetings.”

Kirk was elected in 2014 to represent Georgia’s 13th District in the Georgia State Senate.

Along with Tift, he serves Crisp, Dodge, Dooly, Lee, Turner and Worth counties, as well as parts of Sumter and Wilcox.