Democratic US Sen Lautenberg diagnosed with cancer
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Democratic U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, 86, has been diagnosed with lymphoma of the stomach and will undergo chemotherapy over the next few months, his office said on Friday.
“We expect a full and complete recovery for Senator Lautenberg,” said one of his doctors, James Holland, at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.
The five-term liberal New Jersey senator is not up for re-election until 2014. He serves on committees including those overseeing federal spending and the environment.
Holland said Lautenberg will receive six to eight chemotherapy treatments administered about every three weeks. “In between treatments, the senator is expected to be back at work in the Senate,” he added.
Lautenberg’s illness could further complicate Senate Democrats’ hopes of passing major legislation this year including those on healthcare reform, financial industry regulation, climate change and job-creation.
Democrats currently hold 57 seats. Two independents often side with Democrats and there are 41 Republicans.
While that is a sizable Democratic majority, a supermajority of 60 votes are needed in the 100-member Senate to overcome Republican procedural hurdles that have slowed work on major bills.
WASHINGTON (Reuters)
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