Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon has prostate cancer

[DemocratSinceBirth]

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon has prostate cancer and will miss late-session votes that could include approval of an arms treaty with Russia and repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" law on gays in the military, he said Thursday.

The 61-year-old Democrat said the cancer is in its early stage, diagnosed after his annual physical examination in late November. He said he scheduled surgery for Monday at Johns Hopkins Hospital, expecting the Senate to be in recess by then.

"However, it now appears that I will be missing votes tomorrow and possibly next week," he said in a statement.

Wyden has surgery preparation scheduled Friday but would be available for votes on the weekend, said a spokeswoman, Jennifer Hoelzer.

On the congressional agenda are a government appropriations bill, a new arms treaty with Russia and legislation to allow openly gay servicemembers to remain in the military, but aides said the schedule is so fluid it's not certain what votes Wyden would miss.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/12/16/oregon-sen-wyden-prostate-cancer/


The surgery sounds "perfunctory" so he should get well soon and that's good.