Maine Senator Angus King Scheduled for Surgery Following Prostrate Cancer Diagnosis

United States Senator Angus King of Maine announced that he will be undergoing surgery on Friday at Massachusetts General Hospital following his prostate cancer diagnosis.

The 71-year-old Independent says that the cancer was discovered during his annual check-up in April. The senator adds that the cancer was found early and that he will be expected to recover fully.

"In my case, the doctors found my cancer early. We have a plan to treat it, and plan for a full recovery," Sen. King said in a statement via his website. "So when you see me on the Senate floor in a couple of weeks, or during the August work period in Maine, or on the campaign trail in a couple of years, you will see that I'm back to work with as much energy and dedication to serving you that I promised nearly three years ago."

USA Today reports that the scheduled surgery was well timed with the July 4 congressional recess happening on the same time period.

According to NBC News, King plans to come back to work on July 7 after the recess. He announced that the surgical operation will not affect his decision to run for a second term in 2018 and adds that his "poor little prostate won't be along for the ride."

King is also a skin cancer survivor. According to the Washington Times, King said that 40 years ago, he was cured from malignant melanoma, a more aggressive and serious type of skin cancer. King's press release also stated that both cancers are unrelated.

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer among US men. The prostate is a gland only found in males and majority of prostate cancers start in the gland cells. According to the American Cancer Society, 6 out of 10 prostate cancers are found in men over the age of 65 and rarely affects men younger than 40.

Medical News Today reports early prostate cancers usually have no symptoms and diagnosis and can only be detected through routine check up or blood test. For symptoms that do show, it may include: frequent and sometimes painful urination, blood in urine, painful ejaculation and other related urination problems.

Treatment of prostate cancer varies by how far along it is. Depending on the stage, treatment options may include: surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, vaccine treatment, bone-directed treatment, or the combination of all treatments mentioned above.