Health · Healthcare & Policy · 10 hrs ago
Ilse Aigner discusses two serious illnesses and life as a single person
Ilse Aigner spoke about two serious illnesses in a podcast interview in Germany.
Aigner, 61, is president of Bavaria’s state parliament and a CSU politician.
She was diagnosed with thyroid cancer while serving as agriculture minister in Angela Merkel’s government, and had surgery followed by radiation treatment that required her to isolate.
She said the cancer had a strong chance of being cured and had not spread.
A tumor in her back was removed before she turned 18, after severe pain and an urgent operation; doctors warned that paralysis was a risk.
Aigner said those experiences help her keep perspective on what matters.
She also said she is single but lives with extended family in a multigenerational home, and does not rule out a future relationship.
She is being considered as a possible candidate to succeed President Frank-Walter Steinmeier next year, and could become Germany’s first woman president.
Ilse Aigner spoke in a podcast about two serious illnesses she experienced in earlier years.
She said thyroid cancer was diagnosed while she was agriculture minister in Angela Merkel’s cabinet.
Aigner also described having a spinal tumour removed before her 18th birthday, when doctors warned of possible paralysis.
The 61-year-old said she is single but lives in a busy three-generation family household.
Aigner is being considered as a possible candidate to succeed German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
- Who
- Ilse Aigner, president of the Bavarian state parliament.
- What
- She discussed two serious illnesses and her life as a single person in a podcast.
- When
- The articles were published on 15 October 2026; the illnesses occurred in earlier years.
- Where
- The podcast was by Münchner Merkur and tz. Aigner lives in a three-generation household.
- Why
- She spoke about her past illnesses and current private life; a further reason is not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Aigner had a spinal tumour removed after it had gone undetected for a long time.
A thyroid carcinoma was diagnosed, and Aigner underwent surgery and tablet-based radiation treatment.
Aigner discussed her illnesses and single life in a podcast by Münchner Merkur and tz.
- Age
- 61
- Office
- President of the Bavarian state parliament
- First illness
- Thyroid carcinoma diagnosed while Aigner was agriculture minister
- Second illness
- Spinal tumour removed before her 18th birthday
- Household
- Three-generation family home
- Possible future role
- Candidate to succeed Frank-Walter Steinmeier as German president
2 sources
What people are saying
Today I see some things more calmly because I know what is really important and what may not be quite so important.
I go through life as a single person.
I live in a large family household, in a so-called three-generation house, where there is always something going on.
That would demand a lot from a partner.