Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Kanezo Muraoka, acting chairman of the party's largest faction, has had a cancerous tumor removed from his lungs, it was learned Wednesday.

Former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, who heads the faction, said the operation was successful, and Muraoka is expected to resume his lawmaking duties in about three weeks.

The House of Representatives member and former chief Cabinet secretary underwent the surgery at JR Tokyo General Hospital in Shibuya Ward on Tuesday.

Muraoka, 71, was admitted Monday to the hospital after a regular medical check in late October revealed a malignant tumor with a width of less than 1 cm in his lung.