Durbin's Tumor Not Cancer, Spokesman Says

Illinois Democrat had surgery Aug. 12.

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin doesn't have cancer.

The growth the Illinois Senator had removed from his stomach earlier this month was benign, spokesman Joe Shoemaker said Tuesday.  Doctors had found no traces of cancer before Durbin's surgery but the type of tumor he had removed can be cancerous.

Durbin, 65, is the second ranking Democrat in the Senate. He underwent surgery on Aug. 12. at the University of Chicago Medical Center and was released a day later.

After surgery, a full biopsy was performed, showing no signs of cancer.  Doctors also performed tests on other parts of Durbin's body and no cancer was detected.

Shoemaker said Durbin won't require any additional treatment for the tumor and is resuming a full schedule.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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