Rosendahl attends first Council meeting since cancer treatment

City Councilman Bill Rosendahl on Tuesday came to the City Hall council chambers using a walker and said he had lost 45 pounds while undergoing cancer treatment over the last six weeks. Rosendahl, who is 67, told the LA Times that he was diagnosed July 20 with a cancer that originated in the ureter. "He said that until four or five days ago, he had struggled to walk," the LAT reported. He has continued to use medical marijuana to control pain.

Using a walker and looking more gaunt than he did when he last appeared at City Hall in July, Rosendahl was welcomed with a standing ovation before divulging that he has had "13 hits of radiation" and two chemotherapy treatments.

The 67-year-old Rosendahl thanked his constituents, various politicians and left-leaning public figures, including actor/director Warren Beatty and U.S. Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio), for calling him and visiting him at his Mar Vista home.

"People have brought food to the house. People have prayed with me. People have sung with me. They have put all kinds of positive energy toward me," said the councilman, who represents coastal neighborhoods stretching from Westchester north to Pacific Palisades.

Rosendahl has until November to decide whether to gather the petitions he needs to run another campaign. He already has a trio of campaign fundraisers scheduled this month. As he continues to receive his treatments, he said he would not necessarily make every council session but promised to attend meetings on days when there are matters requiring 12 of 15 votes to pass.

Rosendahl told Rick Orlov he hasn't decided yet whether to run for reelection. From the Daily News:

Rosendahl said he is planning to proceed with a scheduled fundraiser for election to his third term next March, but said a final decision on whether to run is still up in the air.

"I'll decide by the first week of October if I am strong enough to serve a full term," Rosendahl said. "The last thing I want is for the voters of my district to elect someone who cannot serve."

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During his treatment, Rosendahl said he used medical marijuana to help him deal with the pain.

"I used it only when I needed it and it has helped tremendously," Rosendahl said. This was not the first time he used medical marijuana, he said. He was first provided a prescription by his internist for earlier diagnoses of diabetes and neuropathy.

"I have always been an advocate of marijuana," Rosendahl said. "I think it's a shame we have so many young people in jail for using it."