U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning is apologizing to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg for saying that he believes she could die in less than a year from pancreatic cancer.

The Kentucky Republican said Saturday that Ginsburg has the type of cancer that people often die from within nine months.

He said in a statement Monday that it wasn't his intent to offend Ginsburg with the remarks and apologizes if he did. Ginsburg returned to the bench Monday and Bunning says it is great to see her back at work.

The Courier-Journal of Louisville reports the two-term senator's remarks came when he said he supports conservative judges "and that's going to be in place very shortly" because Ginsburg has cancer.

Doctors removed a small tumor this month from the 75-year-old Ginsburg.