Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois had a stomach tumor removed on Thursday and is recovering at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois had a stomach tumor removed on Thursday and is recovering at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Durbin spokesman Joe Shoemaker said a preliminary biopsy showed no signs of cancer although the type of tumor he had removed can be malignant. A pathologist will examine the tumor and results will likely be known next week, Shoemaker said. "Senator Durbin is resting comfortably and likely to stay overnight," Shoemaker said. "He came through surgery with flying colors." Durbin discovered the growth several weeks ago, during a routine medical checkup in Washington. He then underwent examinations of his esophagus and stomach, which showed no signs of cancer, Shoemaker said. The tumor was not present in the lining cells of Durbin’s stomach. Durbin, 65, is expected to resume a light schedule in the next few days and resume a full schedule next week, aides said. Durbin is second to Majority Leader Harry Reid in the Senate Democratic leadership ranks. Shoemaker said Durbin had a gastrointestinal stromal tumor, also known as a GIST, removed. It is a relatively rare form of stomach growth. To treat it, Durbin underwent surgery that includes removing part of his stomach and completely removing the tumor and potentially affected areas. Durbin is not expected to need additional treatment beyond recovering from his surgery. According to the American Cancer Society, not all GISTs are cancerous. Some are benign and don’t grow into other areas of the body. Durbin’s father, William Durbin, died of lung cancer. Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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