UPDATE: Rep. Mike Carter 'responding well' to chemotherapy amid pancreatic cancer battle

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — UPDATE (Monday, Jan. 18, 2021):

Rep. Mike Carter announced some good news today in his battle with pancreatic cancer: the state representative says he is responding well to chemotherapy.

Rep. Carter has been receiving treatment at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He thanked health center officials for their work Monday evening.

Weeks before Rep. Carter's cancer diagnosis, he was in the hospital fighting a serious case of COVID-19. You can read more here.

See our previous report below.

ORIGINAL STORY (Thursday, November 19, 2020):

Nearly two months after his hospital stay for COVID-19, Tennessee State Representative Mike Carter of Ooltewah is in the midst of another battle: pancreatic cancer.

Back in August, Rep. Carter spent more than a week in the hospital as he fought coronavirus, several days of it in ICU. He was released on August 26.

Carter said in a statement Thursday that since returning home, he has been dealing with lingering symptoms.

"However, a recent trip to Vanderbilt Hospital revealed that I have pancreatic cancer, and the doctors believe many of those symptoms were a result of the cancer," says Carter.

Carter says his doctors have told him he should be able to continue working as he had before, and that he indents to continue serving in the legislature.

Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke tweeted Thursday afternoon, calling for the community to support Rep. Carter and his family:

"Please join me in keeping Rep. Mike Carter and his family in our prayers right now. I know that Mike is a fighter and he'll give his battle against cancer everything he's got!"

Cleveland Mayor Kevin Brooks tweeted his support, saying, "Sending Prayers your way @RepMikeCarter. God Is Able"

U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann joined in with his support, calling for prayer for Carter. "Mike, please know that you have our unconditional support in this battle and we are praying for you and your family."

Carter says he has begun treatment for cancer at Vanderbilt.

"I sincerely appreciate your prayers," says Carter.

This is a developing story and will be updated as we learn more.