Rockland County Exec Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer

Ed Day, the Rockland County Executive, is undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.

“Because of my family history of this disease, I am a firm believer of the importance of early detection,” Day said in a prepared statement. “I strongly encourage all Rockland County residents, especially those known to be at higher risk, to make cancer screenings a regular part of their medical routine.”

Here’s the full statement:

The Office of the Rockland County Executive today announced that County Executive Ed Day is undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.

Due to detection of the cancer in an early stage of the disease when it is most treatable, the County Executive is likely to be cured by the procedure, which took place this morning at a hospital in New York City.

The prognosis is excellent and significant side effects are not expected.

County Executive Day expects to continue his official duties without interruption, but will temporarily operate on a reduced schedule.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in American men after skin cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates about 220,800 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2015 and about 27,000 men will die from it. Approximately one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetimes. Among well-known men who have survived prostate cancer are Rudolph Giuliani, Robert De Niro, Arnold Palmer, Joe Torre and Generals Colin Powell and Norman Schwarzkopf.

County Executive Day’s father died as the result of unchecked prostate cancer. “Because of my family history of this disease, I am a firm believer of the importance of early detection,” said County Executive Day. “I strongly encourage all Rockland County residents, especially those known to be at higher risk, to make cancer screenings a regular part of their medical routine.”