In a tearful announcement Thursday afternoon, Pinellas County Commission chairperson Dave Eggers said he has colorectal cancer.
He started treatment in mid-July, he said. His doctors first detected the cancer in June and he’s receiving treatment at the Moffitt Cancer Center. His doctors have given him “a path to cure,” he said during Thursday’s commission work session.
“It has been an emotional month or two,” said Eggers, 69. “And I know there will be some ups and downs along the way, but I’m doing well. I feel great, which is the irony of all of it.”
Eggers said he’s optimistic and grateful for the support of his fellow commissioners, his family and his life partner, Anna. He has served in the District 4 seat since he was first elected in 2014. In August’s primary, voters decidedly reelected him.
Eggers’ seat represents the northernmost part of Pinellas, including Tarpon Springs, Dunedin and Oldsmar. Before he was elected, he served as a city commissioner and mayor of Dunedin.
He was seven years into his 10-year cycle of getting a colonoscopy when his diagnosis came up “sooner than we expected,” he said. Eggers told his fellow commissioners, County Administrator Barry Burton and County Attorney Jewel White of his diagnosis over the weekend, and said he felt “a lot of kindness.”
Eggers told the Tampa Bay Times in a phone call that he feels best “doing the work he loves” on the commission. He could be virtual some days, he added, but it won’t affect his work.
“I’m certainly not going to let the cancer define me,” Eggers said in a phone call.
Eggers added in Thursday’s meeting that he believes “God has plans” for him.
“I have to be on board with whatever they are,” Eggers said. “Don’t know those yet, but hopefully they’ll be the ones that I’m hoping for.”
He said he has three main procedures scheduled in November, March and May. He’s undergoing steady chemotherapy now, he told the Times.
Eggers also urged people to get checked out as he did.
His announcement comes about a week after Tampa City Council member Lynn Hurtak announced she has breast cancer.
