OS ANGELES, Sept. 7 — Richard J. Riordan, 71, the former mayor of Los Angeles and a likely Republican candidate for governor next year, disclosed on Thursday that he underwent secret treatment for prostate cancer last year as mayor. But he said that the treatment, 44 radiation sessions, was successful and that he was healthy enough to run for office should he choose.
Mr. Riordan, along with his doctors, said the cancer was discovered at an early stage last October during a routine examination and that he received radiation treatments from February until May. They said no evidence of the disease had been found since then.
Dr. Derek Raghavan, a cancer specialist at the U.S.C./Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center who oversaw the treatments, said Mr. Riordan's prognosis was good. He said Mr. Riordan was in good physical shape for a man his age and that he had responded well to the treatments.
Mr. Riordan is widely regarded as one of the strongest possible challengers to Gov. Gray Davis, a Democrat, when he seeks a second term next year.
Mr. Riordan disclosed the treatment in an interview with The Los Angeles Times, shortly after calling close friends and supporters to tell them of the treatments.
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He told the newspaper that he had decided to go public at this point because, "I'm running for office now and I think voters have a right to know about it."
Mr. Riordan has not officially announced that he is a candidate for governor. But that statement essentially made it official.
Dan Schnur, a top campaign adviser, said Mr. Riordan had previously chosen not to release any information about this potentially life-threatening ailment because it "in no way interfered with his abilities to perform" his duties in office.
As a politician and a wealthy businessman specializing in corporate takeovers, Mr. Riordan has sometimes been criticized as being overly secretive.
When Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York discovered last year that he had prostate cancer, he went public with the news and dropped plans to run for the Senate.
The timing of Mr. Riordan's announcement seemed intended as much as anything to limit political damage before Mr. Riordan made a formal announcement that he would run for governor.
A number of political experts and consultants said today that the announcement could subtly underscore one area where Mr. Riordan is considered vulnerable, his age. He will be 72 at the time of the election. Mr. Davis is 58.
Still, Mr. Riordan is regarded as a strong candidate with a good shot at winning the Republican nomination. The only other top-tier Republican candidate so far is Secretary of State Bill Jones, who has neither the money nor name recognition of Mr. Riordan.
As mayor of Los Angeles for eight years, Mr. Riordan proved to be a moderate Republican who emphasized his ability to bring people together and his belief in law and order. His second term was tarnished by a police corruption scandal.