U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) announced yesterday that he has been diagnosed with a recurrence of Hodgkin's disease, a cancer of the lymphatic system.
Specter, whose term ends in 2010, expects to remain in office and continue re-election efforts, he said in a statement.
The diagnosis was based on a routine PET scan that showed small lymph nodes in his chest and abdomen. A follow-up biopsy of one of the nodes was positive for Hodgkin's.
"I was surprised by the PET scan findings because I have been feeling so good," said the statement from Specter, who was originally diagnosed with Hodgkin's in 2005.
Specter had been in remission for three years.
His oncologist, John Glick of Penn's Abramson Cancer Center, said Specter "has an excellent chance of again achieving a complete remission."
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