Ron Wyden: I Have Cancer, Will Undergo Surgery - may miss key votes on DADT, START

[jefferson_dem]

Ron Wyden: I Have Cancer, Will Undergo Surgery

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) has announced that he is suffering from prostate cancer. In a statement, the senator said that he was diagnosed with the disease in late November and is scheduled to have surgery on December 20.

Wyden says that he expects a "full and speedy recovery," but it is possible that he will miss crucial Senate votes, including ratification of the START treaty and a repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Scroll down for full statement. More to come.

"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."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/16/ron-wyden-cancer-prostate_n_797936.html

[Clio the Leo]

1. prayers for his full recovery. nt

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

2. My heart sank and my stomach just rose to my throat when I read the headline.

The good news is that he's being proactive.

I really like Wyden. He's a good guy and a realiably progressive vote.

[jannyk]

3. Oh No - he's my Senator - a very good man!

[rucky]

4. Why don't the assholes ever miss key votes?

sorry. speedy recovery, Senator

[jannyk]

5. Just tried emailing him our good wishes and the server is busy.

He's very popular in our neck of the woods. I'll try again later.

[ProSense]

6. Terrible news.

Praying for your speedy recovery, Senator Wyden.

[DemocratAholic]

7. the good news is it was eary stage

Detecting prostate cancer in the early stage is so very important. Having surgery to remove it, while more painful and difficult recovery than other treatments, may give him best chance for long-term survival. Johns Hopkins is a very good place for that kind of surgery. I'm glad he is being proactive and taking care of this quickly. He's a good guy.

[Smarmie Doofus]

8. "Routine"= good sign; "early= good sign".

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

Probably asymptomatic, I'm thinking; another good sign.

The rest I'll leave to the MDs.

Sounds like he'll be ok.

Good vibes sent yer' way, Senator.

[Tx4obama]

9. Barney Frank said today we have 'at least 62' for DADT repeal

Don't know if he was counting Senator Wyden or not,
if he was then that would knock us down by only one,
and we should still have enough.


p.s. Get well soon wishes to Senator Wyden.

[Tx4obama]

10. Senator Wyden will stay this weekend to vote on DADT repeal & Dream Act

From TPM:

When Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced today that he had been diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer, the news seemed to throw his vote into doubt on DADT repeal. The initial announcement suggested that after a pre-op doctor's visit on Friday he'd be away from the Senate until early January.

But Wyden's spokeswoman, Jennifer Hoelzer, has just confirmed to TPM that Sen. Wyden will be available this weekend to vote on the key DADT and DREAM Act votes.

[golfguru]

11. Bad news and good news

Bad news of course is that it is cancer.
Good news is that 90% of prostate cancers are very slow growth cancers
so let us hope his cancer is indeed caught early and not spread.