SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN, FORMER GOP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE, HAS BRAIN CANCER

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version Share this

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

July 20, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – Senator John McCain (R-AZ) has been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain tumor, after having a large blood clot behind his eye removed on Friday.

Glioblastoma is the same type of cancer that claimed the life of Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy.  The average life span after diagnosis is only 14 months, with the cancer nearly always returning, but some have survived for five years or more.

According to a CBS report,  McCain is undergoing gene sequencing to see if there could be a potential for gene therapy.  He will likely also undergo chemotherapy and radiation.

NPR reports that McCain’s cancerous tumor was at the front of his brain, a positive sign as that’s the area farthest away from the portion of the brain responsible for speech and other key functions.

His doctors at the Mayo Clinic issued a statement that McCain is doing “amazingly well” following the surgery. 

McCain’s absence from the Senate forced cancellation of a vote on a GOP healthcare bill to repeal and replace Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act. President Trump is now urging the Senate to repeal without replacement, an action the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says would have even more dire consequences, causing 32 million Americans to lose healthcare and raising premiums on average by 25% or more.

The Senator was the 2008 Republican presidential nominee and formerly served as a combat pilot during Vietnam, when he became a prisoner of war from 1967-1973. The son of an admiral, he refused offers to be released while fellow prisoners remained captive.  He was released after a cease-fire and hailed as a war hero.

In the Senate, he has long had respect of fellow lawmakers in both parties for hs pragmatic approach to issues.  Recently, he has emerged as a vocal critic of President Donald Trump on some key issues, , particularly with regard to policies involving Russia. McCain issued a statement today condemning Trump’s announced plan to end backing of Syrian groups fighting against President Bashar Assad.

Senator McCain’s office has voiced appreciation for the outpouring of support from leaders on both sides of the political aisle.  He will determine when, or if, to return to the Senate after consultation with his doctors.

 

 


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.