By Associated Press - Monday, December 20, 2010

PORTLAND, Ore. | Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon is recovering from successful prostate-cancer surgery but will likely miss the final votes of the lame-duck congressional session, aides said Monday.

Mr. Wyden’s staff quoted the surgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore as saying that “everything went perfect. The patient is recovering well.” Mr. Wyden expects to be released Tuesday and will recuperate at his home in Washington.

Mr. Wyden, who easily won re-election to a fourth term in November, said last week that the early-stage cancer was discovered after a physical in November.

The Democrat worked through the weekend, voting on the winning side for the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gays in the military. He was on the losing side of an effort to advance a bill to give young illegal immigrants a path to citizenship.

His treatment means that Mr. Wyden will not be able to participate in the final debate and expected Senate vote on the START missile treaty with Russia, complicating hopes of President Obama and Senate Democratic leaders of nailing down the two-thirds majority needed to ensure ratification. A vote on the treaty could come as early as Tuesday.

Congress is also trying to complete an interim spending bill to keep the government open before adjourning the current lame-duck session.

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