Sheriff undergoes successful surgery

In early May, Perry County Sheriff Gary Schaaf was given the diagnosis of stage one lung cancer. Fast forward a few weeks, and he is cancer-free following surgery at St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau.
The Sheriff’s Department issued an update on Schaaf’s health condition June 2.
“The Sheriff’s surgery went well,” according to a Nixle post shortly before 5 p.m.
Schaaf provided an update later that day on his cancer diagnosis.
“This was the slow acting kind and was localized in my right upper lobe,” Schaaf said in a June 2 Facebook post. “Today, I had the right upper lobe removed and will not require chemotherapy or radiation.”
Schaaf said doctors informed him he was cancer-free after the procedure.

“We were very fortunate to have caught it early,” Schaaf said. “The surgeon said the surgery went well.”
The doctor expected Schaaf to be out several weeks recovering at home.
Following the June 2 surgery, Schaaf remained hospitalized for a few days.
Schaaf was released from the hospital Monday, June 7.
Schaaf closed his update with the following message: “Please keep us in your prayers so I will continue to heal as quickly as planned. Thank you.”
Schaaf has served as Perry County Sheriff since 1994.