(AP) - Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd says he has been diagnosed with an early stage of prostate cancer and will have surgery early in August.

Dodd says he feels fine and is "confident we're going to come out of this well." He says he was diagnosed about six weeks ago, but the diagnosis will not affect his plans to seek a sixth term next year.

The 65-year-old Dodd is chairman of the Senate Banking Committee and is playing a lead role in Congress' overhaul of the nation's health care system. He took that role while his close friend, Senate health committee Chairman Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts fights his own battle with brain cancer.

Dodd unsuccessfully ran for president in 2008.