Mayor Ron Littlefield said Wednesday he is feeling well and is ready to resume a full schedule after undergoing cancer surgery.

He said he waited a long time for a health checkup, and he urges others to get regular health tests, especially men for prostate cancer.

"I am proud to be a cancer survivor," said the 61-year-old mayor.

Open Letter from Mayor Ron Littlefield

Thanks to all for a very memorable season.

Although I would have preferred to keep it all quiet, it is pretty well known that I have been dealing with prostate cancer. Interestingly, Chattanooga Police Chief Freeman Cooper has been traveling along that same sensitive path and following pretty much the same schedule of surgery and recovery. I have always admired those who earned the title “cancer survivor”, but I never really wanted to join the club. Chief Cooper and I now find ourselves as new recruits in a not too exclusive group with a membership that is growing rapidly.

Like many people – particularly it seems like most men – I have tended to avoid doctors. Perhaps I was too healthy and considered myself invulnerable, but it is a fact that up until this recent episode, I had only missed one day of work due to illness in my entire life. Sure, I was a regular blood donor and as long as they said that my blood pressure, pulse and other such tests were acceptable, I figured that everything must be just fine. I could not help but note that I had outlived several of my doctors, the last of whom died several years ago. Only after months of urging, that evolved into almost daily nagging from my wife (who then enlisted key staff in the Mayor’s office to badger me into getting a decent physical examination), did I relent and go in for a thorough going over.

My new doctor went through the whole routine and everything looked great until the results of that PSA test (Prostate Specific Antigen) came back elevated. I’ll spare everyone the details, but let me assure all those out there who, like me, might be avoiding the matter that the whole process – exams, tests, biopsy, surgery, etc. – is not really all that bad. In fact, the biopsy was done in the doctor’s office and I went directly from there and participated in a news conference on neighborhood crime within an hour.

The surgery was planned for the holidays so that I could recover and be back up and running by the New Year. I went into Memorial Hospital the day before Thanksgiving and went home three days later. My activities were pared back to permit some rest, but I still hit the high spots and participated in major events like the recent major jobs announcement by Alstom Power for the old Combustion plant. That was such an important economic development victory for our community and something in which County Mayor Ramsey and I had invested considerable time and attention. I just couldn’t miss it.

I am saying this in case you saw my picture in the paper and might have wondered why I didn’t attend a specific event or Christmas party. I did learn that I am not Superman and the combination of 61 years and major surgery will take some wind out of your sails. My wife kept me on a short leash for a few weeks and demanded that I spend more time resting – those were my doctor’s orders as well. So, it appears that the reduced schedule seems to have worked. I am thankful to say that as of today, January 2, 2008, I feel fine and am ready to resume a full calendar of responsibilities.

I am proud to be a cancer survivor. Since we are told that one in six men will likely have prostate cancer, I don’t feel singled out or special in any way. Chief Cooper and I have resolved to remain survivors for a long, long time. Let me simply say that the downside of having something like prostate cancer when you are in the public eye is that everyone knows about it. The upside is that everyone SHOULD know about it so that guys like me will quit avoiding the question and go and, at least, have a regular PSA test.

The really significant and humbling thing about going through something like dealing with cancer in public is the great outpouring of concern, good wishes and prayers that I have received. My prognosis is good and I expect to continue to be around and involved in the progress of this great and growing city.

Let me close by saying thank you, thank you, thank you from my wife, Lanis, and myself for all the notes, calls, love and attention that have lifted our spirits during this very special season. We thank God for living in such a caring and compassionate community and more than ever I thank God for good health.

Ron Littlefield