U.S Senator John McCain Diagnosed With Brain Cancer
Senator John McCain of Arizona has been diagnosed with brain cancer, a Spokesperson at Mayo Clinic where the senator is being cared for has said.
The 80-year-old senator removed glioblastoma, a type of brain tumor, along with a blood clot in a surgery at the Mayo Clinic on Friday. The surgery confirmed the presence of brain cancer associated with the blood clot.
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Glioblastoma is a particularly aggressive tumor that forms in the tissue of the brain and spinal cord, according to the American Brain Tumor Association.
McCain’s doctors said the “tissue of concern” was removed during the blood-clot procedure.
The Mayo Clinic said in a statement released by McCain’s office: “The senator and his family are reviewing further treatment options with his Mayo Clinic care team. Treatment options may include a combination of chemotherapy and radiation. The senator’s doctors say he is recovering from his surgery ‘amazingly well’ and his underlying health is excellent.”
His office issued a statement describing him “in good spirits”, but not indicating when he will return to the Senate.
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McCain’s absence from the Senate caused a delay in the vote on the Senate Republican bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), popularly known as Obama care, which was originally scheduled for Monday.
His absence would also affect the ongoing investigation of the Trump campaign’s potential involvement in Russian meddling in the 2016 campaign.
Colleagues from both parties reacted swiftly to McCain’s announcement with sadness and encouragement. Trump exhorted McCain to “get well soon” and declared the senator a “fighter.” Former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton both tweeted their good wishes.
McCain, who was re-elected to his sixth term in the Senate in 2016, was the Republican party’s presidential nominee in 2008 and finished second to George W Bush in the 2000 GOP presidential primary. Prior to his career in politics, McCain served as an aviator in the US navy, and was held as prisoner of war for five and a half years during the Vietnam war. While being held captive by the north Vietnamese, McCain was repeatedly subjected to torture.
He retired as a captain after earning a number of decorations including the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
