Deputy mayor will have cancer surgery

Spokane Valley Deputy Mayor Rich Munson will have surgery for prostate cancer next week, he announced Tuesday.

A recent blood test and subsequent biopsy indicated that he has cancer, but it has not spread to other organs, said Munson, 63.

“There’s absolutely zero indication that it’s gone anywhere,” he said.

If prostate cancer is detected before it spreads, the surgery is very effective at preventing the disease’s recurrence. But it will put the councilman out of action while he recovers from the procedure.

“I’m anticipating no more than three weeks,” he said.

While he is recovering, Munson said he will listen to council meetings via phone.

“I’ll be keeping on top of what’s going on,” he said at a Tuesday night’s council meeting.

About 180,000 cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed each year, and about 16 percent of American men develop the disease during their lifetime, according to the National Cancer Institute.

About 3 percent of prostate cancer patients die from it.