Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens is celebrating a profound personal victory, having been declared cancer-free less than three months after undergoing surgery to remove his prostate.
Recent blood tests confirmed no detectable levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a key indicator of prostate cancer, while lymph node tests also delivered clear results. The mayor received the definitive news on Wednesday, November 21, 2025.
A Wave of Relief and Joy
For Dilkens, the medical confirmation triggered an overwhelming emotional response. He described the moment he learned the results as a "wave of happy emotion." While he was optimistic due to early intervention, seeing the concrete numbers made the victory real.
"It just hits you in a very different way," the 53-year-old mayor shared. "I'm overjoyed."
The Path to Early Detection
Dilkens's proactive approach to his health was crucial. Ever since he turned 50, he has undergone a PSA blood test every six months, a practice inspired by his father's own battle with prostate cancer in his early 70s.
This vigilance paid off when his own PSA levels showed a consistent rise. His urologist ordered an MRI, which revealed a growth, and a subsequent biopsy confirmed the presence of early- and intermediate-stage prostate cancer.
Robotic Surgery and a Swift Recovery
On September 9, 2025, Dilkens travelled to London for a prostatectomy performed using a da Vinci Surgical System. This robotic technology allows for less invasive procedures, resulting in reduced pain and faster recovery times.
Although Windsor has the same technology, Dilkens opted for the procedure in London on his urologist's recommendation for greater privacy. His recovery was remarkably swift.
"They said four to six weeks, and by four weeks, I was back at work," Dilkens stated, attributing his "textbook-perfect outcome" to early diagnosis and intervention.
A Message to the Community and Fellow Men
The mayor expressed deep gratitude for the "amazing support" from the Windsor community, which rallied around him with emails and cards after his diagnosis was made public in September.
Now, he hopes his experience will serve as a powerful message to other men. Prostate cancer is often a silent killer with no noticeable symptoms in its early stages, making regular screening vital.
Dilkens's journey isn't over; he will continue to be monitored closely with PSA tests every three months for the first year, then every six months for the following four years. As he puts it, "As long as it remains undetectable, life is good."
