Mitt Romney Underwent Surgery Last Summer to Treat Prostate Cancer The former Massachusetts governor was only discovered to have had the surgery. "Last year, Governor Mitt Romney was diagnosed with slow-growing prostate cancer. The cancer was removed surgically and found not to have spread beyond the prostate.” Romney, the former Republican nominee for president in 2012, has reportedly been mulling a run for Senate in Utah now that Sen. Orrin Hatch is planning on retiring soon.