Colorado Mayor Reveals Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Arvada Mayor Lauren Simpson, 42, revealed on Tuesday night that she has been diagnosed with stage one breast cancer. The diagnosis came over the holidays after doctors found a mass and tumors, a discovery she almost missed due to a prior misdiagnosis of a benign cyst. Simpson emphasized that her routine screening was crucial, stating, 'Thank God I did my routine appointment, because if I waited another year, the cancer could have spread.'

Simpson is slated for surgery next Monday, which will include a mastectomy on her right side and a lump removal on the other. She anticipates needing hormone therapy but does not expect chemotherapy or radiation. She hopes to return to work in April, aiming for the council meeting on April 7. Mayor Pro Tempore Randy Moorman will oversee city affairs during her recovery.

The mayor shared her diagnosis to encourage women around her age to undergo regular screenings, noting the rising cancer rates among younger women. She stated, 'I have a whole new appreciation for how important [screening] is because I'm asymptomatic.' Simpson will also undergo reconstructive surgery using tissue from her abdomen.