HONOLULU -- Sen. Barack Obama's grandmother, Honolulu resident Madelyn Dunham, has had a recurrence of cancer besides suffering from a broken hip, a source said.

Obama will suspend his presidential campaign Thursday to fly to Honolulu to be with Dunham, 85. Obama calls Dunham "Toot", short for Tutu.

On the campaign trail, he has repeatedly credited Dunham for making him the man he is today. Dunham and her late husband, Stanley, raised Obama from when he was 10 years old until he went to college.

When Obama traveled to Oahu on vacation with his family in August, they visited Dunham almost every day at her Beretania Street apartment. This time Obama will be in Honolulu alone, and for less than 24 hours.

He is expected to spend all of that time with his grandmother and sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, who has been caring for Dunham.

---

Video Report | Family Friend Talks

---

Dunham also suffers from osteoporosis and has had a corneal transplant.

The campaign canceled Obama's events in Madison, Wis., and Des Moines, Iowa. He will speak at an event in Indianapolis Thursday morning before leaving. Obama's wife, Michelle, will take his place at some events.

Hawaii's U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono credits Dunham for deeply influencing not only Obama, but also for making her what she is today.

"She was such an important part of Sen. Obama's upbringing and she did instill in him the kind of focus and caring she showed toward me," Hirono said.

Right after she graduated from the University of Hawaii, Hirono worked at the Bank of Hawaii for Dunham as a temporary employee.

"She reinforced in me this idea that you can do a lot of things as a woman if you are focused," Hirono said.

Dunham rose from the secretarial pool to be a Bank of Hawaii vice president.

Obama is expected to arrive Thursday night and leave late Friday night.