Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez has been released from a San Antonio hospital following a surgery earlier this month to remove a cancerous tumor.
The county disclosed Cortez’s medical condition Monday morning and said testing has found no evidence that the cancer has spread and that Cortez’s doctors have told him his prognosis is excellent.
“I have already survived cancer once so I am sensitive to my body and I recently felt something was not right,” Cortez said.
In the news release, the county said Cortez initially consulted with his son-in-law who is an internist practicing in San Antonio.
“The son-in-law immediately made arrangements in San Antonio to evaluate the Judge and, upon discovery of a mass, to remove the mass intact,” the release stated.
That surgery was performed on Jan. 17 at Methodist Hospital and Cortez remained hospitalized for another two weeks so doctors could perform the additional testing that found no evidence that the cancer had spread.
Cortez is planning on staying with his daughter in San Antonio for a few more days before heading home.
“I am eager to get back to work,” Cortez said. “I am thankful for all the expressions of support and the prayers of friends and loved ones.”
The news release said that county officials were aware of the medical procedure and that all county government functions continued unabated.
