Gov. Blanco enters hospice care

BATON ROUGE — Former Gov. Kathleen Blanco, who has been battling cancer since 2017, has entered hospice care.

Blanco, 76, announced in 2017 she suffered from ocular melanoma. The cancer was first diagnosed in 2011 and reappeared in October 2017 during a routine checkup in Memphis, Tennessee.

During an event in December in which she was honored, Blanco said there was "no escape" from her cancer in what felt like a public farewell speech to the Council for a Better Louisiana audience.

"The cancer has metastasized and spread throughout my body," said Blanco, Lafayette's favorite daughter. "There is no cure."

Blanco then said, "There is no escape. The monster is not far down the road."

In a statement, Gov. John Bel Edwards called Blanco "a champion" of Louisiana.

"Gov. Blanco is a woman of incredible strength and abiding faith, a champion for the people of Louisiana who fought fiercely for our state," Edwards said. "Donna and I ask that you join your prayers to our for our field friend Gov. Blanco, (husband) Coach and her family during this very difficult time."

Just last week during a gubernatorial forum, Edwards said Blanco was his favorite governor.

The one-term governor who will be forever linked to Hurricane Katrina said she wouldn't have chosen to be the state's top executive during that storm in 2005 and the devastating Hurricane Rita that followed just afterward, but said God had his own plan for her.

Other state officials also offered prayers.

MORE:Gov. Blanco's family says prayers giving her strength

Attorney General Jeff Landry tweeted: "Sharon and I ask you to join us in praying for Gov. Blanco, as well as her friends and family at this difficult time."

State lawmakers in both the House and Senate chambers also held moments of prayer for Blanco.

Blanco served as governor from 2004-2008. She didn't seek a second term.

Before that, she served in the Legislature, as a member of the Public Service Commission and as lieutenant governor.

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1