Sen. Arlen Specter announced yesterday that the Hodgkin’s disease that he fought and beat in 2005, has returned.

The recurrence was diagnosed based on a routine follow-up PET (Position Emissions Tomography) scan that showed small lymph nodes in his chest and abodmen. A biopsy of one of the nodes was positive for recurrence of Hodgkin’s, a disease of the lymph system.

“I was surprised by the PET scan findings because I have been feeling so good,” Specter said in a statement. “I consider this just another bump on the road to a successful recovery from Hodgkin’s, from which I’ve been symptom free for 3 years.”