PORT ANGELES — Cancer screening works, says outgoing City Councilwoman Lauren Erickson who revealed Monday that she has “very treatable” breast cancer.
“My prognosis is excellent because it was caught so early. I want to encourage all women to get a mammogram,” she said.
Erickson said she had surgery last week to remove the cancer, which was discovered through a mammogram.
Doctors originally thought she would need chemotherapy, but the cancer was caught early enough, and there is no indication that it had spread, she said.
To ensure the cancer stays in remission, she will begin eight weeks of radiation treatment beginning June 1, Erickson said.
“Mine is 90 percent curable, due to early detection. I’m 50 years old and I’ve had mammograms before, although I hadn’t had one in a couple years. That’s how important they are,” Erickson said.
Last week, Erickson sent a statement to Mayor Karen Rogers saying she was resigning on May 31 due to increasing job obligations and undisclosed health reasons.
In an interview on Monday, she said she decided to step down now because the city is starting its strategic planning process, which will be very time-consuming but also a good experience for a newcomer to the council.
