Rep. Ben Westlund to undergo surgery

State Representative Ben Westlund will undergo surgery on Wednesday, May 14, to remove a tumor from a lung.

He is expected to be out of action for several weeks.

Doctors do not know whether the tumor is malignant or benign.

"The first thing is, I'm determined to get well," Westlund said. "My job is to fight and to be strong. After that, it's up to the man upstairs."

Westlund had been suffering from wracking coughing fits for several weeks.

"I've been coughing really hard and I've been running literally at half speed for three or four weeks," he said.

After coughing up blood, Westlund underwent a series of exams that determined he has a tumor in the upper lobe of his left lung.

The lobe will be removed in the surgery. According to Westlund, the loss of the lobe will not be incapacitating; the lower lobe will expand to fill the void.

Westlund says he has never smoked.

The State Representative is expected to be recovering for two to three weeks.

"I have a milkshake bet with the Speaker of the House (Karen Minnis)," Westlund said. "I say it's two weeks. She says it's going to be at least three weeks. it's probably closer to three weeks."