Agriculture secretary Veneman discloses early form of breast cancer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said Wednesday she has an early, treatable form of breast cancer and plans to begin treatment this week.

Veneman, 53, said in a letter to colleagues at the department that she intended to continue as secretary during the treatment, but would be unable to travel for several weeks. "It is 98 percent curable and my doctors expect a complete recovery following treatment," she wrote.

The treatment will include a lumpectomy, a breast-saving type of cancer surgery in which only the lump is removed, followed by six weeks of radiation therapy, she said.

She identified the cancer as "ductal carcinoma in situ," tiny tumors that aren't invasive cancer and don't always become life-threatening.