THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Jack Kemp, the former housing secretary, congressman and Buffalo Bills quarterback, has been diagnosed with cancer, his office said Wednesday.

A statement issued in Washington said Kemp was undergoing tests to assess the origin of the disease and the treatment.

The statement did not disclose the type of cancer.

Kemp, 73, said he would continue to serve as chairman of his Washington-based Kemp Partners consulting firm and would remain involved in charitable and political work.

Kemp's son, Jimmy, also played quarterback professionally. He spent eight seasons ('94 to 2001) in the CFL with the Sacramento Gold Miners, San Antonio Texans, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Montreal Alouettes, Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts.

Kemp missed the entire '02 CFL season in a dispute with the Argos after they refused to pay his moving expenses.

After his football career, Jack Kemp represented western New York for nine terms in Congress.

He ran unsuccessfully for president bid in 1988, then later was American President George H.W. Bush's housing secretary and ran for vice-president as Bob Dole's running mate.

Dole said Wednesday that Kemp is "a tough guy of deep faith, and his multitudes of friends are praying for the best."