She went into surgery this Thursday afternoon to remove what she calls an early form of breast cancer.
Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims has rarely been just a number, unless that number was one.
She's broken a lot of ground on her way to becoming the County's first female Sheriff, but now she's one of 420.
The American Cancer Society says 420 Fresno County women will get a breast cancer diagnosis this year, and in her case, doctors wanted to get her into surgery in a hurry.
Henry Perea, Fresno County Supervisor: "All we know is, for it to go into surgery immediately, there's some concern the doctors had something they wanted to catch early."
42-hundred California women will die of the disease this year, but Sheriff Mims doesn't think she'll be counted in that number.
County Supervisor Henry Perea spoke to her.
Henry Perea, Fresno County Supervisor: "She was in good spirits. She was very confident that they caught it early and that it's something they could deal with, but the key was to get into surgery and get into post-op as soon as possible. In the meantime, it's the Sheriff being the Sheriff. She's saying she's ready to work. She's gonna continue working."
The Sheriff will probably be in recovery for several weeks and she plans to work from home during that time.
In a statement to the citizens of Fresno County this Thursday afternoon, she said she's hoping to publicize her fight with cancer to help save the lives of others.
"I hope that by making my battle with breast cancer public, others will be encouraged to take the important steps to do regular examinations and get regular checkups. I have no doubt that this routine has saved my life."
Undersheriff Scott Jones will be in charge of the department while the Sheriff isn't able to be at the helm.
Letter from Sheriff Margaret Mims:
Citizens of Fresno County:
As your elected Sheriff, I feel a duty and responsibility to make public an issue I am facing. As a result of a routine examination, it has been determined that I have a very early form of noninvasive breast cancer. After a great deal of research and consultation, I have chosen a course of treatment that has the highest degree of certainty that the cancer will be eliminated permanently.
I am grateful to those women who have spoken up on this issue that affects thousands of women in the United States each year. I hope that by making my battle with breast cancer public, others will be encouraged to take the important steps to do regular examinations and get regular check ups. I have no doubt that this routine has saved my life.
My family and I are very grateful for the prayers and support we have already received. Soon I will undergo a surgical procedure and as I recover I will work from home for the next few weeks after which time my doctors expect that I will be able to resume my full time routine, cancer free.
There will be no interruption of service from the Fresno County Sheriff's Department. I am very proud of the professionals that serve you everyday, the deputy sheriffs, correctional officers and the professional staff. They are as dedicated as I am to the public safety of the citizens of Fresno County.
I appreciate the opportunity to serve the people of Fresno County, and I am eager to do so for many years to come.
Sincerely,
Margaret Mims, Sheriff
Fresno County
Links & Resources
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/breast
SUSAN G. KOMEN BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION
ww3.komen.org/home/
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
www.cancer.org
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