PHOENIX — One of the orangutans at the Phoenix Zoo has undergone surgery to treat a rare type of cancer.

The zoo said it is the second time Michael, a 38-year-old orangutan, has had surgery to remove the cancer, called apocrine carcinoma.

Apocrine carcinoma is an extremely rare cancer of the sweat glands. It can be invasive and aggressive.

The zoo believes this is the first documented case of this type of cancer in any orangutan.

"Our priority is to give Michael the best chance for a healthy future,” said Dr. Gary West, the zoo's Senior Vice President of Animal Health & Living Collections.

The cancer was first discovered seven months ago when zookeepers noticed a small mass of skin that was growing rapidly under Michael's right armpit.

The zoo said Michael underwent a second surgery

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