Senator Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut, age 65, announced on Friday that he had prostate cancer, in an early, treatable form. His PSA blood test, taken during an annual physical exam, plus follow up biopsy and treatment are covered by his Congressional health care plan, he said.

Dodd said that a blood test during an annual physical six weeks ago indicated the possibility that he had cancer. A subsequent biopsy confirmed the diagnosis.. Treatment is planned for August.

Dodd told reporters that he would have surgery this month at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan. He said he would take a few weeks to recuperate at home, while Congress is in recess, and expects to back at work on time.

“I am going to be fine in all this,” Dodd said. “This is very common. If you’ve got to have cancer, I am told by some doctors, it’s the slowest growing, the best one to have, the most manageable.”

“We can talk in abstractions about health care, but what I’m going through, many people do,” he said, adding that even though he knew he had prostate cancer while overseeing the bill, he did not want to make himself an example — until now.

“I have the benefit of being in Congress,” he said. “Having a good health care plan is not available to everyone.”

More coverage at MSNB and today’s New York Times.