McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi vividly remembers the day he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

It was eight years ago – and just four days after he had announced his candidacy to be the county’s top prosecutor. He withdrew from the race, not knowing whether he would survive.

“Your first thought is that you aren’t going to live as long,” Bianchi, 69, said. “Most people fear that ‘c’ word. As the shock wears off a little bit, you have to understand that you have to look at the alternatives and see what options are out there.”