HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll's battle with cancer forced her to miss her first Senate session in nearly six years on Monday.

Knoll, whose duties include serving as Senate president, said in a written statement issued through her office that she is heeding the advice of her doctors, family members and colleagues.

Knoll, 77, said she hopes to return to the Capitol once she regains her strength. Meanwhile, she said she will follow Senate proceedings by television and perform her other duties from her state-owned residence at Fort Indiantown Gap, the headquarters of the Pennsylvania National Guard about 25 miles northeast of the capital.

Knoll's office revealed in August that she had been diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer in early July and that she had been undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatments.