Storrs, Conn. ? Connecticut men’s coach Jim Calhoun has prostate cancer and is leaving the team for up to a month for surgery and treatment.

“I want to attack this thing,” Calhoun said Monday. “I want to get it out of my system, and I want to fight this like I’ve fought everything else in my life.”

The 60-year-old coach will take a three- to four-week medical leave, with assistant George Blaney taking over on an interim basis. Surgery was scheduled for Thursday.

UConn Health Center urologist Peter Albertsen, said the cancer was detected early and was “relatively low-grade.”

“Coach Calhoun’s condition appears to be very treatable, and we anticipate his return to normal job-related activities within three or four weeks,” Albertsen said.

Calhoun led the Huskies to the 1999 NCAA title. With a career record of 637-290, including 14 seasons at Northeastern and 17 at UConn, Calhoun is eighth among active Division I coaches.

Calhoun learned he had cancer Friday and told the team Monday. The 18th-ranked Huskies (13-4, 4-2 Big East) play Wednesday at Virginia Tech.