Springfield Police Chief Ken Scarlett said doctors told him his recent surgery to remove his prostate was a success, but he is undergoing some quick tests this week to determine if he needs additional treatment. said.
Scarlett returned to work last Tuesday after three weeks of medical leave. The 46-year-old Chief was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Scarlett will have surgery at Saitmann Cancer Center in St. Louis and will have a four-week checkup on Friday.
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Scarlett was told that a pathology report showed that everything was contained in the prostate.
“As far as I’m concerned, I’m recovering pretty well,” Scarlett said Friday at the inauguration of Mayor Misty Busher and other city officials at the Springfield Bank Center.
On April 18, Buscher told The State Journal-Register that Scarlett “supported her completely. I just wish him well and take care of himself and his family.” That’s my focus on Chief Scarlett, and we’re not going to touch his position.”
Buescher made good on that statement when he announced on Monday that he would stay on as chief.
Scarlett, who has been with the SPD for 25 years as of April, admitted he was returning to the position, but reiterated how much his time away had meant he had missed the department’s camaraderie.
“Many men and women at the Springfield Police Department have reached out to me with their thoughts and prayers, and I am grateful for their support, and they have shown so much about bonding and brotherhood in law enforcement. he said.
“There’s a reason senior staff[who acted on his behalf in his absence]are in place because I trusted them during my 15 months as chief and even before that. I was really excited[to be back]because three weeks away, you really start to miss the place, you start to miss the people and the personality.”
At her annual checkup in October, Scarlett said her prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test numbers were higher than normal. This led to biopsies, which revealed three tumors, two of which were in early stage and one of which was more aggressive, according to the Gleason scoring system.
According to Cancer.org, 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, but the cancer is more likely to occur in older men and black men.
Scarlett’s father, Ken Scarlett Sr., served 30 years with the Illinois State Police before retiring in 1989 and was a prostate cancer survivor. He passed away in 2004.
Speaking to other individuals who have had the experience, Scarlett said she was encouraged, “You’re not alone on the island on this journey.” If you can find something early and be very successful for the rest of your life, I highly recommend it.”
He said his faith and family weathered the ordeal.
“My wife[Tracy]has taken great care of me, and she has especially done so throughout this incident,” Scarlett said. I know, but this was certainly a prime example of what that means. I am grateful to her and her two daughters (Addison and Sterling).
To contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.