Former San Diego Mayor announces battle with breast cancer

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – Former San Diego Mayor Maureen O’Connor underwent a single mastectomy for a cancerous lesion in her breast Wednesday.

According to Sharp HealthCare, the procedure happened at the Breast Health Center at the Sharp Memorial Outpatient Pavilion, which has the highest national certification for breast health.

The surgical team, led by Dr. Christina Casteel said the lesion was successfully removed and Ms. O’Connor will be released from the hospital in a a few days.

A source close to O’Connor said she encourages women to consult their physicians and learn more about early detection and breast cancer screenings.

O’Connor was San Diego’s first female mayor and the first Democrat to hold the office since 1971.

O’Connor had a brain tumor removed in 2011 and found herself in the spotlight again last year when she admitted to having a serious gambling problem, losing as much as $13 million.

In February of 2014, O’Connor agreed to pay back $2 million to a charitable organization founded by her late husband and to seek treatment for her gambling addiction.