Senator Christopher Dodd announced on Friday that he has been diagnosed with an early stage of prostate cancer and plans to have surgery during the Senate's August recess.

Senator Dodd, 65, speaking at a news conference in Hartford said I feel fine; I'm going to be fine. We caught this early.

Dodd is chairman of the Senate Banking Committee and also is playing a lead role in Congress' overhaul of the nation's health care system.

He took that role while his close friend, Senate health committee Chairman Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., battles brain cancer.

In an earlier statement, Dodd said, After a week or two of recuperation, I expect to be right back to work.

Dodd is facing a tough bid for re-election in 2010, but his surgery and recovery are not seen as affecting his re-election campaign.

Cancer