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Prince Tomohito to have surgery Mon. for throat cancer+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)TOKYO, Feb. 14_(Kyodo) _ Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, a cousin of Emperor Akihito, has developed cancer in the throat and will undergo surgery Monday at the National Cancer Center in Tokyo, the Imperial Household Agency said Tuesday. The 60-year-old prince was diagnosed as having an early stage of cancer after signs of cancer in the upper part of the throat were found during a regular checkup Feb. 7 at the center, the agency said. The prince will enter the center Friday and has canceled a visit to Hokkaido Prefecture scheduled from Sunday to watch an international ski marathon contest. He will also cancel other official duties for a while, the agency said. The prince had seven operations -- to remove tumors from his esophagus and tongue -- between 1991 and 2003. He has written a book about his cancer history. The prince recently attracted attention by voicing opinions in media interviews on the ongoing debate on whether to allow women and their descendants to succeed to Japan's imperial throne. He said allowing a descendant of a female monarch would destroy the imperial tradition of passing down the throne only to heirs who have emperors on their father's side. |