***UPDATE*** 2:40pm
The Chicago Sun-Times, where Novak is a columnist, has more details:
Chicago Sun-Times columnist Robert Novak said today he has been diagnosed with a brain tumor but says that, "God willing," he plans to be back at work soon.
Novak said he was diagnosed Sunday with a tumor and will soon begin treatment at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
He issued the following statement:
"On Sunday, July 27, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I have been admitted to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, where doctors will soon begin appropriate treatment. "I will be suspending my journalistic work for an indefinite but, God willing, not too lengthy period."
Novak is alert and talking -- he wrote the statement announcing his illness -- but in intensive care, where the hospital does not allow phone calls or flowers, according to his assistant, Kathleen Connolly.
"He's talking,'' Connolly said. "He seemed fine."
The diagnosis was sudden. Novak became ill Sunday during a family outing near Cape Cod, Mass. A family member called 911, and he was brought by ambulance to Brigham and Women's Hospital, where the diagnosis was made.
It's too early to know whether the tumor is malignant or benign, his assistant said.
"They haven't even done the biopsy yet,'' Connolly said.
That's to be done later today, she said.
Human Events reports that Robert Novak has been diagnosed with a brain tumor:
Robert Novak was admitted yesterday to a Boston hospital where he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. In a written statement given to his publisher, Novak said:
"On Sunday, July 27, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I have been admitted to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, where doctors will soon begin appropriate treatment.
"I will be suspending my journalistic work for an indefinite but, God willing, not too lengthy period."
Novak is the long-time editor of the influential newsletter, Evans-Novak Political Report, published by Human Events' parent company, Eagle Publishing. Novak is also a well-known columnist for the Chicago Sun Times and more recently a Fox News Channel contributor. The 77-year-old Novak recently celebrated his 50th year as a Washington-based journalist.