McCain to undergo prostate surgery

PHOENIX -- Sen. John McCain is expected to be hospitalized one or two days for surgery to treat a benign enlargement of his prostate, his office announced.

The surgery will be performed at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix on Wednesday, the senator's 65th birthday. McCain has canceled a planned Sept. 4 speech in Minneapolis, but it wasn't immediately known whether he would miss any other public appearances.

Enlargement of the prostate is common among older men and can lead to urinary difficulties.

As part of the procedure McCain will undergo, a scope is used to reach the prostate, said Dr. Ron Israeli, director of urologic oncology at Staten Island University Hospital in New York. Enlarged prostate tissue blocking the urethra is then cut away.

"The procedure is not very serious and is fairly common," said Israeli, who discussed the procedure generally and is not involved in McCain's case.

The former Republican candidate for president underwent surgery last August to remove melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, from his temple and upper arm. McCain's office said checkups since then have found no further signs of cancer.

On the Net:

http://www.senate.gov/ 7/8mccain/