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Maya Rockeymoore Cummings Undergoes Successful Double Mastectomy Surgery

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The widow of the late Congressman Elijah Cummings underwent a successful double mastectomy at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

She decided to have this preventative surgery after her mother passed away from breast cancer and her sister was recently diagnosed.

Cummings will return to campaigning for her late husband's seat in the 7th Congressional District in a couple of weeks after taking some time off to recover.

She announced her candidacy and surgery the same day.

"In the healthcare front, I want to talk about my own personal journey," Cummings said. "Weeks, even months before running for Congress was ever a thought, I was already traumatized. In 2015, my mother died of stage four breast cancer. Last year, my sister was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer."

She is expected to face a large field of competitors in both the special and regular general elections.

These opponents are expected to include Baltimore City Delegate Talmadge Branch, Republican strategist Kim Klacik, former Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Baltimore City State Senator Jill Carter and Howard County Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary.

The filing deadline for the special election is this coming Wednesday with the special primary election being held Feb. 4.  Both the special general election and the primary election will be held on April 28.

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