PITTSBURGH -- U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter said on Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with an early recurrence of Hodgkin's disease, a cancer of the lymph system.

Specter, R-Pa., was originally diagnosed with the disease in 2005. At that time, he was treated with six months of chemotherapy. The disease went into remission, which lasted three years.

Specter's recurrence was diagnosed based on a routine follow-up scan, which showed small lymph nodes in his chest and abdomen. A follow-up biopsy of one of the chest lymph nodes tested positive for recurrence. A bone marrow biopsy came back negative.

Now, Specter will receive chemotherapy weekly over the next 12 weeks.

Specter said he was surprised the disease returned, because he had been feeling fine.

"I consider this just another bump on the road to a successful recovery from Hodgkin's, from which I've been symptom-free for three years," he said in a statement on Tuesday.

But some experts say Specter's latest bout with the disease will be the toughest road he's ever had to walk.

Dr. Stanley Marks isn't treating Specter but as a cancer specialist, he knows the disease and says recurrence is not good.

"If he's not sensitive to chemotherapy now with this new regimen that he is to receive, then his prognosis is poor, but if he responds well to the treatment, he could go on for years before another relapse," said Marks.

In Hodgkin's, cells grow abnormally and may spread beyond the lymph nodes. As it progresses, it cripples the body's ability to fight infection.

Specter's disease is in Stage 3A, which means it is not in an early stage.

Marks said that the chemotherapy for that stage can be toxic, even for a younger person.

"I know it sounds like he's upbeat and wants to continue to work through this, but this next 12-week period for him is going to be pretty difficult," said Marks.

Specter said he'll continue his normal duties and still plans to run for re-election in 2010.

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