Former Sen. John Tower, R-Texas, was recovering from surgery Wednesday that removed a cancerous prostate gland, hospital officials said.
Tower, 64, underwent the procedure Tuesday at Zale Lipshy University Hospital. His surgeon, Dr. Paul Peters, said Tower's recovery should be "unusually good.""I'll be out of here in a week and I'll be back to normal again real soon," Tower said from his hospital room.
Tower said a routine test indicated a problem with his prostate. A biopsy confirmed the malignancy.
In December 1988, a polyp was removed from Tower's rectum that contained malignant cells. One month later, a non-malignant polyp was removed from his colon.
Tower was President Bush's initial choice as secretary of defense, but the Senate refused to confirm him. He returned to Texas to teach and to re-enter business.
Reports indicate Bush is considering naming him chairman of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board.