Former Rep. Peter King recovering from surgery for malignant tumor
Former GOP Rep. Peter King at his Seaford home last year. Credit: Danielle Silverman
Former Rep. Peter King of Seaford is recovering from surgery that removed a cancerous tumor from his stomach wall.
King, 79, said Thursday he was in “virtually no pain” after undergoing surgery on Monday at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park.
King, a Republican who served in the U.S. House for 14 terms before deciding not to seek reelection in 2020, said doctors were confident he would not need radiation or chemotherapy.
In late March, during a previously scheduled endoscopy, physicians identified a protrusion coming from his stomach, King said. He underwent a biopsy in early April, which identified the tumor as malignant.
King, who frequently serves as a political commentator on WABC/770 AM radio, was back on the air a day after his surgery, calling in to a morning show from his hospital bed.
“I didn’t want those guys to say anything about me behind my back,” King said jokingly about his decision not to skip his appearance on the “Sid and Friends in the Morning" show.
According to photos posted on King's Facebook page, Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder and Northwell Health CEO Michael Dowling are among those who have visited King in the hospital.
King's son, Sean, and daughter, Erin Sweeney King, a former Hempstead Town councilwoman, also have been with him at the hospital.
King said he expected to remain in the hospital for a few more days and was in good spirits.
King wrote on Twitter: “Bottom line: I’m back in good health. All that can screw it up is if I walk off the curb and get hit by a bus!”
Laura Figueroa Hernandez is the White House correspondent and previously covered New York City politics and government. She joined Newsday in 2012 after covering state and local politics for The Miami Herald.
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