Wyden Announces He Has Early-Stage Prostate Cancer

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) announced this afternoon that he will have surgery next week for early stage prostate cancer.

The 61-year-old senator, who won re-election last month to another six-year term, said he got the diagnosis after a physical in late November and that he expects a “full and speedy recovery” after his surgery Dec. 20.

Wyden expects to return to work when the Senate re-convenes in January, but says he will have to miss floor votes in the meantime to prepare for the surgery next Monday at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Here’s Wyden’s entire press release:

Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement today regarding his upcoming surgery for early-stage prostate cancer:

“After my annual physical in late November, I was diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer.  After reviewing all the options with multiple physicians, I decided to take a proactive approach and have surgery, which will be performed December 20 at Johns Hopkins Hospital by Dr. Alan Partin.

“Thanks to routine screening, this was diagnosed very early and I expect a full and speedy recovery.

“I scheduled the surgery for the Monday before Christmas anticipating that the Senate would have recessed by that time and that there would be no disruption to my work in Oregon or Washington.  However, it now appears that I will be missing votes tomorrow and possibly next week while I prepare and undergo this procedure.   I expect to be back to work full-time when the Senate reconvenes in January.

“If anything is taken away from my experience, I hope it is the importance of getting routine physicals.  One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetimes.  Early detection is critical to catching this disease when treatment is most effective.”

For more information on prostate cancer visit:http://www.knowyourstats.org/Resources/Resources.html