McDonalds shares slide in US trading

Shares in fast food giant McDonald’s slipped in the US today after it was revealed that new chief executive Charlie Bell had undergone cancer surgery.

McDonald’s, still recovering from the April 19 death of Bell’s predecessor, Jim Cantalupo, had no further comment beyond its statement that Bell underwent successful surgery.

It said that his recovery is expected to be brief, but did not elaborate.

Shares fell about 1.2% in early trading on the New York Stock Exchange

McDonald’s spokesman Walt Riker said Bell, 43, had not been diagnosed with colon cancer when he was appointed, indicating that surgery quickly followed initial detection.

Medical experts say the survival rate is high when the cancer is detected early.