Dec 15, 1:31 PM EST
Powell Undergoes Prostate Cancer Surgery
Schweid reports the State Department kept word of the surgery secret until just before the operation. (Audio)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Secretary of State Colin Powell underwent surgery for prostate cancer Monday at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the State Department said.
"I just spoke to the secretary's doctor a few minutes ago. I'm happy to report that he's out of surgery, that everything went fine," said department spokesman Richard Boucher.
Boucher said the surgery lasted about two hours and that the secretary's prostate was removed.
"The doctors say he had a localized prostate cancer," Boucher said at a department briefing. "They say he did extremely well. There are no complications and a full recovery is expected."
Powell was expected to be hospitalized for several days, then go home to recuperate. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage will be in charge in his absence.
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Armitage