In a statement, King, 71, said he had no symptoms but a medical exam and blood test in April indicated possible prostate cancer. A biopsy was performed and confirmed the diagnosis. King said body scans found no sign of the cancer beyond the prostate area.

“So it might seem unusual to say this, but today, I actually feel pretty fortunate,” he said.” The fact is, millions of Americans bravely and quietly fight more aggressive cancers than mine every day. “

This isn’t King’s first case of cancer. “Forty years ago, as a young man, a routine screening found an aggressive form of skin cancer. And, thanks to the doctors who caught it early, and my health insurance, I was cancer free within months,” he said.

King has scheduled the surgery for June 26 at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. King said he planned the surgery for the first day of the Congressional July 4 holiday.

He plans to be back working as soon as possible. “So when you see me on the Senate floor in a couple of weeks.”

And he doesn’t plan for it to slow him down in the long run.

“I’m looking forward to a full recovery and to continuing my service in the Senate,” King said. “And no, this does not my affect my intention to run for re-election, except my poor little prostate won’t be along for the ride.”