Barely a month after he won a third term as mayor of Fargo, Dennis Walaker faced a far more serious fight.

Diagnosed with kidney cancer in July, Walaker issued a statement this week to announce that he is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments that weakened him to the point of hospitalization. He said he was unaware of his condition until after the June election.

"While attending a family wedding in Vermont this July, I was feeling under the weather and my family convinced me to see my doctor when I returned," he wrote in a letter to Fargo residents on Monday. "I had been losing weight and originally thought it was because of concurrent sinus infections and a dental procedure. Unfortunately, this was not the case."

Walaker said he is currently staying in a rehabilitation facility, but stays in daily contact with his staff.

"I continue to improve every day and will continue my course of treatment very soon," he wrote. "I speak daily with Deputy Mayor [Tim] Mahoney and am briefed daily by the Executive Assistant to the Mayor and City Commission by the very capable Sharon Odegaard."

His letter concluded:

Star Tribune photo by Shari Gross

"I will continue to keep the City Commission and the citizens of Fargo informed of my situation. Fargo is an amazing place and I am proud and privileged to represent this City as your Mayor. I ask for your continued support and prayers during my cancer fight."