Felando Says He Has Cancer Again as He Begins 7th Term

Although he is undergoing a second round of treatment for a rare form of cancer, state Assemblyman Gerald N. Felando says he will be on hand in Sacramento on Monday to be sworn in for a seventh term.

Felando (R-San Pedro) had long said his cancer, a type of lymphoma called mycosis fungoides, was in remission as a result of his initial treatment two years ago.

But the San Pedro lawmaker said Friday that he began undergoing a combination of chemotherapy and ultraviolet-ray treatment in September after noticing new lesions on his skin.

Felando, 55, said he kept the news from his family, friends and aides until recently so he wouldn’t worry them. He said he did not feel obliged to disclose his condition to voters in advance of the Nov. 6 election.

“I don’t think people are not going to vote for me just because I have cancer,” Felando, who won reelection easily, said Friday. “Only a few wackos would believe that.”

In August, Felando told The Times that, if reelected, he may step down in 1992. Soon after, however, he backtracked, saying he would definitely run for an eighth term.

Felando says he remains determined to run for reelection in ’92. He says his cancer treatment appears to be sending his cancer into remission once again. The treatment, gradually declining from three times a week to once a week, is scheduled to end in January, he said.

He said it is not affecting his ability to do his job.

“The only thing I have to scale back on is being out in the sun because it affects my skin,” Felando said. Asked if he felt confident he would overcome the cancer, Felando said: “Absolutely. I’m a fighter.”