Rep. Clay Shaw (R-Fla.) will undergo surgery on May 31 to have a “small, confined cancerous tumor” removed from his left lung, according to a press release from his office.

Shaw is no stranger to battling the disease; two years ago he was diagnosed with lung cancer. After being hospitalized for a few days, he was back at work within a fortnight.

In the statement, Shaw said he expects to miss a similarly small amount of work this time “because it was once again caught in its earliest stages.” As a result, he will not need to be subjected to the rigors of chemotherapy or radiation treatment.

After his first bout with the disease, Shaw co-founded the 2015 caucus with Rep. Collin Peterson. The goal of the group is to make cancer a “manageable disease” and to push for progress on a cure. Lung cancer accounts for 30 percent of all cancer deaths.

Shaw said he has no plans of stepping down or not running for re-election in 2006.

“The latest diagnosis does not change my goals for the future,” he said in the statement. “I am in good health and will absolutely beat this once again.”

Assuming he does run again in 2006, Shaw can expect a tough race, given that his is one of the most competitive districts in the country.

In 2000, Shaw won by slightly fewer than 600 votes against Elaine Bloom (D). Four years later, he faced a strong challenge until his opponent, Jim Stork (D), dropped out for health reasons.