Arthur Blank, Falcons Owner, Announces He Is Cancer-Free

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank announced Thursday he is free of prostate cancer.   

Blank made the announcement while speaking at the Georgia Technology Summit, per Duffie Dixon of WXIA-NBC in Atlanta. 

The 73-year-old Blank, who is the co-founder of Home Depot and has owned the Falcons since 2002, said in a statement released last month (via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution) he was been receiving treatment for the disease:

"

In December I was diagnosed with a treatable form of prostate cancer. Over the last several weeks Angie (Macuga) and I have visited a number of expert doctors and hospitals across the country to identify the best treatment options for me.

I have chosen an aggressive approach that will include surgery and the overall prognosis is good. I’m looking forward to getting this behind me and continuing a very active lifestyle, my upcoming wedding, as well as continued active involvement in our businesses and philanthropic efforts for years to come.

"

During Blank's 14 years as an NFL owner, the Falcons have made the playoffs six times, won three division titles and reached the NFC Championship Game twice. 

The Falcons had their best three-year run of success as a franchise from 2010-12 with Blank in the owner's box. They posted a 36-12 record and made the playoffs each year, earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC in 2010 and 2012. 

In addition to owning the Falcons, Blank founded the Major League Soccer expansion franchise Atlanta United FC that is slated to begin play in 2017.