Starkville Mayor Mack Rutledge is on his way to recovery after undergoing surgery in his third bout with cancer.
Rutledge was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in May and successfully completed surgery Aug. 23. He had radiation and chemotherapy treatments prior to surgery, which he said was fairly standard for this type of cancer.
“The surgery was quite successful and by all indications, all of the malignancy was removed,” Rutledge said.
Rutledge said he is unsure whether he will need subsequent treatments, and he will return to his doctor next week to find out if further treatments are necessary. He is expected to have another minor follow-up procedure next month and will be hospitalized for about three days.
“I have been very blessed to have excellent treatment and a lot of prayer support and seem to be on my way to recovery from this one,” he said. “Amazingly I’ve had very little pain and had a steady, normal recovery. I’m just taking good care of myself, and my wife and family are seeing to it that I do.”
The mayor suffered from colon cancer in 1997 and prostate cancer in 1998. However, none of the illnesses were linked, he said.
“Each was a primary cancer,” Rutledge said. “There was no evidence of spreading from one to another.”
The Board of Aldermen and other staff members have persevered in the mayor’s absence, Rutledge said.
“Fortunately, Vice-Mayor Frank Davis, has been able to step in and assume all responsibilities as mayor in my absence, and he has done so in an excellent manner,” Rutledge said. “He and the staff are working very effectively to keep things in line and do the things that need to be done.”
Frank Davis said he has learned a lot about the job demands from filling in as mayor. His schedule has been filled with phone calls, meetings, visitors and other things requiring his complete attention.
“I feel like Forrest Gump and his box of candy. You just never know, when you reach into the box, what candy you’re going to get,” Davis said.
“It has been interesting and I now understand all of the things that Mayor Rutledge goes through on a daily basis. It’s kind of a whirlwind of things that a mayor has to do.”
Davis added: “It’s been interesting and enjoyable. At the same time, I have walked in the shoes of the mayor, and I can tell you now it’s been quite a challenge. There is never a dull day.”
Rutledge is recovering nicely, Davis said.
“I’m sure he’ll be back in the office as soon as his doctors allow him. In the meantime I’ll try to the best of my ability to take care of business in his absence,” he added.
Alderman-at-large Vic Zitta said, “(Rutledge) has done really well with his surgery, and we want him back as soon as he can come. We all wish him well and a full recovery.”
Rutledge’s term ends next June, and he does not have plans to run for re-election. However, he is anxious to return to work, and plans to do so in a couple of weeks.
“I’ll be glad to get back,” he said. “I do anticipate getting back about the 13th of September.”