Lautenberg diagnosed with cancer, will miss Monday jobs bill cloture vote

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) has been diagnosed with stomach cancer, his office announced Friday.

The New Jersey Democrat was hospitalized last week with a bleeding ulcer. Doctors have now determined it was caused by B-cell lymphoma.

Lautenberg’s office said the 86-year-old senator would immediately begin chemotherapy for the cancer, which they characterized as treatable.

But the Demcorat will miss Monday’s cloture vote on the jobs bill. Democrats will now need at least two Republican votes to cut off debate.

Lautenberg’s office released a statement from his oncologist on Friday predicting he’d make a complete recovery and would be back to work soon.

“We expect a full and complete
recovery for Sen. Lautenberg,” said Dr. James Holland of Mount Sinai Medical Center.

“The senator will be treated with
chemotherapy administered approximately every three weeks. We anticipate
that he will receive between six and eight treatments, and in between treatments,
the senator is expected to be back at work in the Senate,” Holland added.

A spokesman for Lautenberg tells the Newark Star-Ledger that the 86-year-old senator will finish out his current term and plans to run for reelection in 2014.