Durbin Has Surgery To Remove Tumor From Stomach

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Aug 12, 2010 7:00PM

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin had a gastro-intestinal stromal tumor removed from his stomach today. The surgery was performed at the University of Chicago Medical Center and doctors have given him a good preliminary prognosis that the cancer is not more widespread.

"This particular type of tumor is a rare form of stomach cancer, so it is cancer, yes," [Durbin spokesman Joseph Shoemaker] said in an interview.

But he added that the type of tumor that was discovered cannot be classified strictly as benign or malignant since they all have potential to become malignant. "However, small ones such as Sen. Durbin's can often be completely removed and the patient then runs a totally normal course," he said.

Durbin will resume a full schedule next week. We wish the Senator a full and speedy recovery.