Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll today missed her first session presiding over the state Senate since she became lieutenant governor in 2003, heeding her doctors' advice to recover at home from cancer treatments.

Mrs. Knoll, 77, has been receiving chemotherapy for a form of cancer she called neuroendocrine illness. She revealed last month that she had been receiving treatment for several weeks but vowed to continue her duties leading the Senate.

Last week, she presided when the Senate returned to session from its summer break, but on two days she left before the session was over. Today, her office issued a statement that she stayed at the lieutenant governor's residence at Fort Indiantown Gap because "finally, though reluctantly, she said she is heeding the advice of her doctors, family members and colleagues to continue her recovery from cancer treatments at home until she regains her strength."

The statement said she will monitor Senate activities and perform other duties from home.