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Sen. Dodd Has Prostate Cancer

By LAURIE KELLMAN

posted: 4 HOURS 13 MINUTES AGO

comments: 535

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HARTFORD, Conn. (July 31) -- Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd said Friday that he has been diagnosed with an early stage of prostate cancer and will have surgery in early August, but the prognosis is good and the illness will not affect his plans to seek a sixth term next year.

Dodd said the cancer was detected in June during his annual physical and the results were confirmed by a biopsy. He said he plans to have surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York shortly after Congress adjourns next week and is "very confident we're going to come out of this well."

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Alex Wong, Getty Images

Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., revealed Friday that he is fighting early-stage prostate cancer. His prognosis is good and Dodd intends to continue his 2010 re-election run.

"I'm running for re-election," he told reporters at his Hartford office. "I'll be a little leaner, a little meaner, but I'm running."

The 65-year-old Democrat is chairman of the Senate Banking Committee and is playing a lead role in Congress' attempt to overhaul the nation's health care system. He took that role while his close friend, Senate health committee Chairman Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts fights his own battle with brain cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most common form of the disease in men in the United States, affecting about 6.4 out of every 100 men in Dodd's age group, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"I feel fine," Dodd said. "This is very common. If you've got to have cancer, I'm told my some doctors, this is the slowest going, most manageable form to have."

Dodd also used the diagnosis to make a pitch for overhauling the nation's health care system.

"For a person who loses health care coverage, that physical may not be something that you can afford," he said. "I'm fortunate as a member of Congress to have those benefits."

In Washington, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said he didn't know if President Barack Obama had called Dodd upon learning about the cancer, but said he was likely to call later Friday.

Dodd is facing what's expected to be a tough re-election campaign. A poll last week showed him trailing former Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, 48 percent to 39 percent, and 52 percent of respondents disapproved of Dodd's job performance.

The Senate ethics committee is looking into whether Dodd violated standards of conduct when he received mortgage discounts from the VIP program at Countrywide Financial Corp.

Dodd, whose committee oversees the banking and financial industries, insists he did not receive special deals. He produced a report showing other lenders would have offered the same rates and said he thought the VIP program simply meant enhanced customer service and the ability to get a live person on the phone.

Dodd also was caught up in the furor earlier this year over $165 million in bonuses American International Group Inc. paid some of its employees in 2009 while receiving billions of dollars in federal bailout money.

After first denying it, Dodd admitted he agreed to a request by Treasury Department officials to dilute an executive bonus restriction in the big economic stimulus bill that Congress passed in February. The change to Dodd's amendment allowed AIG to hand out the bonuses and sparked a blame game between Dodd and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.

Dodd is the son of former Democratic Sen. Thomas J. Dodd. He was elected to the U.S. House in 1974 and was re-elected in 1976 and 1978, and was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1980.

He ran unsuccessfully for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, dropping out after failing to gain support in the Iowa caucuses.

He is married to the former Jackie Clegg. They have two young daughters.

Associated Press reporter Laurie Kellman in Washington contributed to this report.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

2009-07-31 13:01:11

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SGrimes889

07:07 PMJul 31 2009

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Joanj222

07:07 PMJul 31 2009

HMMMMMM. With Obama's health plan, just think!!! We're not going to need wheelchairs or home health care aids, or medication, for that matter...BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE DEAD. HE WANTS ALL THE SENIORS GONE...THEY TAKE UP TOO MUCH ROOM. Obama is leading us to hell in a handbasket! God help us all!!!!!! This "man" is scary.....VERY scary! BUT DON'T BLAME ME. I DIDN'T VOTE FOR HIM!

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Dollee91660

07:05 PMJul 31 2009

JamooreEM, I will Amen your post. Very well said. Too many people feel entitled.

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MEADHH

07:04 PMJul 31 2009

News Week Magazine is owned by the Obama Administration. How can anyone believe the BS that they print!!! We do not have any news stations other than Fox that are not bought and paid for by THIS RACIST COMMUNIST PRESIDENT. THE BEER MEETING DID NOTHING TO CHANGE MY MIND. ONCE A RACIST, ALWAYS A RACIST. LOOK HOW MANY RACIST ASSOCIATIONS THIS A-HOLE HAS BEEN AFFILIATED WITH. I CAN NOT BELEIVE HOW MANY OF YOU FELL FOR THIS BAS@ARD!!!

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Gardeningatnite

07:04 PMJul 31 2009

How much is this surgery going to cost? Isn't it expensive? Dodd is getting a little long in the tooth isn't he? Maybe it would be cheaper if he just went home and took the pain pill.He probaly got prostate cancer from all that talking out his ass......................so this type of attitude will get more conservatives elected in 2010? LOL!

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SSWood3414

07:03 PMJul 31 2009

Does he have cancer?Or is this a ploy to take the heat off his morgage issues with country wide bank.Its a shame we have to think this way with these elites congress men who think they can do what they want.Thats why we need term limits.I wonder if they get to keep there health care plan under Obamas plan.Vote him out,so he cant screw us anymore.

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Nancy0264

07:03 PMJul 31 2009

Democrats loose their seats in 2010!! NØbama in 2012!! Democrats are dropping in the polls Ried is down to 14% and Nancy is right behind him as others follow!! Easy win in 2010 we must STOP Obama!

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Gardeningatnite

07:02 PMJul 31 2009

You left libswill lose the majority in Congress in 2010 and I don't want to hearcrying, cursing and using your digusting adjetives as you did with Bush.........for what the right-wing is offering, do not be surprised to see more far-left candidates elected in 2010! The mandate voted for was change and those who cannot deliver (the republican party and the blue-dog deomocrats) may be of thing of the past.

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Robertbob786

07:01 PMJul 31 2009

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Dollee91660

07:01 PMJul 31 2009