Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s wife of more than 50  years has been diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer.

Landra Reid, 71, was recently diagnosed and is already recieving treatment, which  includes chemotherapy, in Washington, D.C., the Nevada senator’s office confirmed today.

As Landra Reid undergoes  treatment, her husband will be by her side,  his office said today  but emphasized that this would not interfere with his work as majority leader.

“Senator and Mrs. Reid appreciate the thoughts and concerns expressed during this time. They ask that they be afforded the respect and privacy that any family would want,” Reid spokesman Adam Jentleson said in a statement.

The Reids first met in Basic, Nev., while in high school and were  married in 1959. They have five grown children  and 16 grandchildren.

Last year, Landra Reid and her daughter were  in a serious car accident but  both fully recovered from their injuries.