PORTLAND — The man who was chosen last month to be Portland’s first popularly elected mayor in nearly 90 years says he underwent surgery for cancer last weekend.

Mayor Michael Brennan disclosed publicly on Thursday that he had surgery at Maine Medical Center to remove a carcinoid tumor from his small intestine.

In a statement issued by the city, Brennan said the tumor was removed successfully and he will seek additional non-invasive treatment for lesions that were found on his liver.

The tumor was discovered about two weeks ago, when Brennan sought treatment for stomach cramps. Friends said he entered the hospital on Saturday.

Brennan said he will not need chemotherapy or radiation treatment, because of the type of cancer that was diagnosed.

City spokeswoman Nicole Clegg, who issued the statement, said Brennan’s doctors have given him an excellent prognosis for recovery.

“Everyone at City Hall reacted with concern for his health and well-being, but after hearing about the prognosis there was a sense of relief,” Clegg said

Brennan, who was released from the hospital on Wednesday, is recovering at home this week.

He could not be reached for comment Thursday night, but Clegg said he is expected to return to his duties at City Hall on a limited basis next week.

The City Council is scheduled to meet Wednesday night. If Brennan is unable to preside, City Councilor Nicholas Mavodones will serve as mayor pro tem.

Mavodones, who ran against Brennan in the November mayoral election, said he has known Brennan for more than two decades. He said Brennan is in his mid-50s.

“By all accounts he is a healthy guy,” said Mavodones, who has seen Brennan running in various parts of the city.

He said Brennan ran in the city’s four-mile Turkey Day race on Thanksgiving.

“Thank goodness that he went to see his doctor and got checked out,” Mavodones said.

One of Brennan’s running companions is City Councilor Edward Suslovic.

Suslovic said he was caught off-guard by the news because his friend got a clean bill of health from his doctor after his annual physical exam in August.

Suslovic, Brennan and Glenn Cummings, a former speaker of the Maine House, run around Back Cove three or four times a week. They usually cover about four miles.

“He’s very health-conscious,” Suslovic said. “He’s very disapproving whenever I show up at City Hall with doughnuts.”

According to his campaign website, Brennan worked for the past 10 years as a policy associate at the Muskie School of Public Service, specializing in education and health.

In the city-issued statement, he said, “Cancer can be an extremely frightening diagnosis and I am fortunate to not only have a treatment plan with a very long-term positive prognosis but as an insured American have barrier-free access to the health care system.

“My personal story illustrates the fundamental need all Mainers have to be able to access the health care system when they need to,” Brennan said. “If I had waited or left this disease untreated, both the health consequences and cost of treatment would have been significantly greater.”

Staff Writer Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at:

dhoey@pressherald.com

 

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