Sen. Davis Recovering From Cancer Surgery on Lung : Health: GOP lawmaker, 74, had 20% of his right lung removed. Doctors are confident that senator will fully recover, aide says.

State Sen. Ed Davis (R-Santa Clarita) is making a strong recovery after removal of 20% of a cancerous right lung and expects to be out of the hospital by early next week, an aide said Friday.

Davis still plans to attend a campaign fund-raiser featuring Gov. Pete Wilson on Nov. 15, the senator’s 75th birthday, aide Hunt Braly said.

Two abnormal clusters of cells, discovered during an annual physical examination, were removed from Davis’ right lung during surgery on Monday, Braly said. Tests showed they were malignant.

“But he is progressing very nicely, and there is no evidence of spreading to the lymph nodes or to any other part of his body,” Braly said. “They think they got everything. And they’re confident he will have a full recovery.”

Davis, a senator since 1980, represents a district that sprawls over three counties and includes Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo and parts of Ventura.

He remains at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, recovering from the three-hour operation, but is out of intensive care.

Though losing one-fifth of one lung, Davis will still be able to breathe normally, the aide said. The veteran senator smoked a pipe for decades. He quit about two years ago, not because of health considerations but because he stopped enjoying it, Braly said.

Davis has never had cancer before and is generally in excellent health, aides said.

A former Los Angeles police chief and a gubernatorial candidate in 1978, Davis has not been seriously challenged since he won his Senate seat 11 years ago. He plans to run for reelection next year.