‘My cancer journey isn’t over.’ Tacoma council member will be out for several weeks

Tacoma city council member Catherine Ushka gave a “somber” update to her cancer diagnosis.

At the end of Tuesday’s council meeting, she said “my cancer journey isn’t over” and she would be out for four to six weeks starting April 11.

“While the struggle is real, I fully anticipate returning at full speed at some point and continuing to serve as I always have,” Ushka said.

Ushka announced in mid-September she was recently diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer. She said at the time her prognosis was good and she would be undergoing treatment over several weeks.

She gave an update at the Dec. 20 city council meeting saying she underwent all the recommended treatment. Ushka said at the meeting that the power of community when you’re not feeling good brings you back to life.

“I very recently learned that treatment wasn’t as successful as we would like to be,” she said Tuesday. “So consequently, I’m scheduled for surgery.”

Since 2017, Ushka has served District 4, representing parts of Eastside and South End neighborhoods. She served as deputy mayor last year.

Ushka said she wants her constituents not to fear and that the city staff and other council members will help.

“They have my back,” she said. “They have your back.”

Ushka said she deeply values her Tacoma family and that thoughts and prayers are welcomed and to keep them coming.

She ended saying she was grateful to her family, staff, community and medical team and the support she has gotten so far.

Mayor Victoria Woodards said the council will send Ushka lots of thoughts and prayers and will support her.

“We will win,” she told Ushka.

Ushka also serves as the president of the National Association of Local Boards of Health and board chair of the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s Board of Health.