SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Former Hewlett-Packard Chief Executive and high-profile Republican Carly Fiorina had breast cancer surgery on Monday and hopes to be recovered and active in a matter of months, a spokeswoman said.
Fiorina was a top economic consultant to Republican Party presidential candidate John McCain and is considering a political career. She learned about her cancer on February 20 and the next day gave a speech to California Republicans about the state of the party.
"It is always a good thing when you catch it early," spokeswoman Deborah Bowker said. "She is very hopeful to be out there and active in four to five months."
Fiorina was one of the most powerful U.S. technology executives and the driving force behind HP's controversial acquisition of Compaq Computer, turning the Silicon Valley pioneer into a behemoth with revenue in line with that of IBM.
HP's poor performance forced her exit in 2005 with a $21 million (14.9 million pound) severance package. But she rose to national prominence again as a senior adviser to McCain in the 2008 campaign and has stayed active in the party.
(Reporting by Peter Henderson; Editing by Eric Walsh)
