Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings, who ended his gubernatorial campaign in June because of a diagnosis of prostate cancer during a routine medical check-up, thanked well-wishers after his Tuesday surgery to remove the gland.
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“I appreciate the outpouring of support from our community,” Demings said in a brief statement released by the county communications team. “My surgery went well, and my doctors remain very optimistic about my recovery. I look forward to getting back to serving the residents of Orange County.”
He said he would follow his doctors’ post-operative recommendations for recovery.
Demings, 67, a trailblazing figure in Central Florida, has served as Orange County’s chief elected official since 2018 when he first won the office by a landslide margin. He was re-elected in 2022. Demings also served as Orange County sheriff, Orlando police chief and the county’s public safety director.
He was the first African-American to serve in those posts.
Orange Mayor Jerry Demings: ‘I chose living over campaigning’
Demings surprised his supporters and his county staff with his medical announcement June 5 after his final State of the County address.
The cancer was caught early, detected by a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test that measures protein produced by the prostate gland.
Prostate cancer is among the most common forms of cancer, affecting more than 3 million men each year. It is also considered among the most successfully treated types of cancer, especially if detected and treated in early stages, according to patient guide on the Moffitt Cancer Center website.
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Many men who receive treatment for prostate cancer go on to live their normal lifespan without a recurrence.
“Catching cancer early often allows for more treatment options,” according to the American Cancer Society, which describes prostate cancer as the most common cancer among men after skin cancer. “Some early cancers may have signs and symptoms that can be noticed, but that is not always the case.”
Demings said he shared his story to encourage men — especially Black men — to be tested beginning at age 40.
Prostate cancer is twice as deadly for Black men as it is for white men.
Studies suggest racial disparities in prostate cancer outcomes are most likely related to inequalities in access to medical care. According to fightcancer.org, Blacks have similar survival rates when treated within an equal-access health care system such as the Veterans Health Administration.
Demings said he has taken the PSA test at least once a year since turning 40, as recommended. His PSA levels have always been normal — and were within the normal range after a test in late spring, though they were slightly elevated from his previous test, prompting doctors to suggest a biopsy.
The procedure found cancer cells.
“I’m going to focus on my health,” he said after announcing his decision to withdraw from the governor’s race.
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