HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania Lt. Gov Catherine Baker Knoll announced Wednesday that she's being treated for cancer.

In a letter, the 77-year-old McKees Rocks native said she was diagnosed earlier in the summer with a form of cancer called neuroendocrine illness.

She said she has responded well to treatment so far and plans to keep working, including chairing the State Senate when it reconvenes later this fall.

Dr. David Bartlett of the Hillman Cancer Center said the prognosis for this type of disease can be very good if it's a slow-growing form.

"They tend to be very slow growing cancers so that patients don't know they're there until they've spread to new sites," Bartlett said. "Patients can live with these -- even without treatment -- because they don't seem to have a large impact on the body."

In McKees Rocks, where she still attends church, her pastor said he admires what she's doing.

"And the fact that she's coming public with it is a great witness," said Rev. Lou Vallone, of St. Mary's Church. "It's not unlike our Holy Father Pope John Paul II when he came down with his disease. He wanted people to see there was no shame or sorrow in struggling with the physical disease for spiritual reasons and I think Catherine's probably doing the same thing."

Neighbors said Knoll never forgot the McKees Rocks area, no matter how high she climbed in state government. They are wishing her a full recovery.

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