(CENTREVILLE) - St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman has announced that he has cancer.
In a posting on his Facebook page, Stutesman says he is making the announcement to ease up on some of the rumors that may come out soon.
Stutesman says in late November, he started to develop a lump in his thigh and by December he had it looked at because it wasn't going away.
Following numerous ultrasounds, CAT scans, MRI's and PET scans along with a couple of biopsies, Stutesman says he was told he has a very rare Sarcoma and has a treatment plan from the sarcoma team at the University of Michigan and his local doctors in South Bend.
Stutesman says the treatment will involve a short course of chemotherapy, followed by radiation and then surgery. At the present time it has not metastasized to any other areas so it is hoped to be curable.
Stutesman says he is still working but he is making plans with the other judges to cover his workload when possible. He is also seeking help from his friends across the State or even some retired judges if needed.
Stutesman says he fully expects to continue working through the rest of his term. He is also looking forward to finally getting the treatment started and getting on the road to recovery.
Stutesman says he wants to thank the community for their understanding.