George Harrison [ tickets ] is recovering in Tuscany, Italy, after undergoing surgery in the U.S. to remove a cancerous growth from one of his lungs, according to the U.K.’s Press Association.

Harrison's lawyers told the news service that the surgery--which took place at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.--was successful, but did not specify when the surgery took place.

"I got it purely from smoking," Harrison was quoted as saying in the Press Association's report. "I gave up cigarettes many years ago, but had started again for awhile and then stopped in 1997. Luckily for me they found that this nodule was more of a warning than anything else. There are many different types of cancerous cells and this was a very basic type."

This is the former Beatle’s second bout with cancer. In August 1997, he was treated at Britain’s Royal Marsden Hospital for throat cancer.

In 1999, Harrison sustained a punctured lung when Michael Abram stabbed him after breaking into his home in Henley-on-Thames. Abram was acquitted by reason of insanity and sent to a psychiatric hospital.

Harrison’s solo album "All Things Must Pass" was re-released in January on Capitol Records. Referencing the record, his lawyers said in the statement, "Although All Things Must Pass Away, George has no plans right now and is still Living In The Material World, and wishes everyone all the very best, God Bless and not to worry."