Waukesha Co. Exec. Dan Vrakas diagnosed with prostate cancer

WAUKESHA CO. (WITI) -- Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas announced on Tuesday, March 11th he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and will soon begin treatment.

In a news release, Vrakas said, “Several weeks ago, after my doctor informed me that my PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels were abnormally high, additional testing and a biopsy concluded that I have prostate cancer. It is not believed the cancer has spread beyond my prostate. I feel lucky the cancer was detected when it was, and that I will soon begin treatment and get on the path to recovery."

“While my treatment may have a short-term effect on my ability to attend as many community events as I would like, it will not hamper my ability to perform the other duties of my office or lessen my desire to continue serving the people of Waukesha County,” stated Vrakas.

County Executive Vrakas will receive care from local doctors, in addition to treatments at the Scripps Proton Therapy Center in San Diego, California. The recently opened center is one of 15 proton therapy centers in the United States and is the only center dedicated to treating cancer patients with pencil beam technology. Pencil beam scanning pin points treatment to areas of the body with cancer and spares other healthy tissue. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 233,000 cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2014.

“I strongly encourage men to have annual physicals and to consult their doctor to determine the age appropriateness of additional medical screening, Vrakas concluded.”

For more information on prostate cancer, visit the National Cancer Institute website at cancer.gov or the American Cancer Society at cancer.org.