Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens says he's feeling fine after undergoing surgery in London last week and hopes to return to work at City Hall the week after next.
Dilkens has been recuperating at home after surgery to remove his prostate following a cancer diagnosis.
Dilkens said he'll participate in next Monday's council meeting virtually. He hopes to return to work the following Monday.
"I'm going to be at city council virtually on Monday. I have to go back to the doctor on Wednesday, and then I'll probably finish Thursday and Friday at home, and then expect to be back the following week," he said.
The Mayor said his prognosis is excellent. His doctors told him the cancer appeared to be contained within his prostate, but another PSA test will confirm he is cancer-free. He'll be tested every six months for a few years after that.
He went public with his cancer diagnosis earlier this month to encourage other men over 50 to get screened for prostate cancer.
Dilkens said he had no symptoms and only found out after his doctor started screening his PSA levels, and the latest test came back suggesting cancer. He then underwent an MRI and a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
Since going public, Dilkens said he has received many well-wishes across Canada.
"This story, in a lot of ways, has moved across our country. I've received emails from different men across the country sharing their experience," he said. "At the end of the day, I just hope everyone makes the right decision for themselves."
Dilkens has a family history of prostate cancer. His father was diagnosed at 70, and while it was suggested he could hold off on surgery for a year or receive radiation treatment, he opted to have the organ removed out of an abundance of caution.
At home, Dilkens credited his family for their steadfast support, saying his wife and mother have been a rock for him during a time of uncertainty and upheaval.
"When you hear 'cancer,' it does affect the family. There's a natural worry that comes," he said. "We've had lots of tough conversations and lots of deep conversations about the issue, and they're healthy. They're healthy conversations to have."
