BOSTON, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Kara Kennedy, 42, the second of Sen. Edward Kennedy's three children, recuperated Friday from surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from her right lung.
In a brief statement, the Massachusetts Democrat's office said the operation to remove the malignant tumor was performed Thursday by Dr. David Sugarbaker at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
"From all indications, the operation was a success," said Kennedy spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter. "Her doctors expect her to make a full recovery."
Kara Kennedy is expected to remain at the hospital for a brief period before returning to her home in Bethesda, Md., where she lives with her husband, Michael Allen, and their two children, Grace, 8, and Max, 6.
She is expected to undergo a regimen of chemotherapy in the next few weeks at the Dana Farber Center under the care of Dr. Bruce Johnson.
A former smoker, Kara Kennedy was also known as an avid runner and fitness buff.
The senator, his wife, Vicki, and his daughter's husband were at the hospital during the surgery.
Kara Kennedy reportedly was diagnosed with lung cancer when she went to a doctor just before Christmas for a checkup. Details of the type of lung cancer were not disclosed.
Born to the senator and his former wife, Joan, Kara Kennedy is the second of their three children to be diagnosed with cancer.
Edward Jr., lost a leg to bone cancer in 1973. Their other son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I.;, had surgery in 1988 to remove a noncancerous tumor pressing against his spine.
