TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) -- Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell announced this week he is again battling lung cancer.
Sheriff Campbell says a cancerous spot on his left lung and a polyp on his bladder were found during a recent health screening.
The polyp has been removed and Sheriff Campbell is undergoing radiation therapy to treat the cancer.
Sheriff Campbell has been in remission since 2008 since having surgery to remove a cancerous spot found on his right lung. Sheriff Campbell will continue radiation therapy for the next few weeks.
He credits regular cancer screenings with early detection of the spot and expects to fully recover.
After notifying his staff this week, the sheriff's office issued the following release:
"In 2007 Sheriff Larry Campbell shared with the citizens of Leon County that during a routine physical exam on August 15, 2007, a chest x-ray revealed a cancerous spot on his right lung. Sheriff Campbell said that was the day he stopped smoking and began his battle to beat cancer. In September 2007, Sheriff Campbell underwent successful surgery at Ta llahassee Memorial Hospital to remove a cancerous growth on the lower lobe of his right lung. Two weeks after surgery Sheriff Campbell was back at work and in February 2008, he was cancer free.
Since that time Sheriff Campbell received regular cancer screenings and continued to support cancer awareness and research through his active participation with the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.
Today Sheriff Campbell spoke with members of the Leon County Sheriff's Office and reported that during a recent health screening, a cancerous spot was found on his left lung and a polyp was found on his bladder. Sheriff Campbell reported the polyp on his bladder has been successfully removed and the lung cancer is being treated with External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) which focuses radiation from outside the body on the cancer. Sheriff Campbell expects the radiation therapy will be completed in the next few weeks, without interruption of his daily planned schedule.
It is extremely important to me to openly communicate with the community and members of the Leon County Sheriff's Office on matters which impact this agency Sheriff Campbell said of his medical health disclosure. As the elected Sheriff of Leon County, I believe it is best to be as transparent a s possible in all matters related to this Office, which includes letting the citizens know the status of my health.
Sheriff Campbell credits regular cancer screenings and early detection with his expected full recovery , and is confident that once again he will be cancer free. Sheriff Campbell added during this Thanksgiving season I am grateful to have the wonderful support of my family, employees, friends and the citizens of Leon County during this time as I continue the fight against cancer and fulfill my duties as Sheriff."