John McCain has been diagnosed with brain cancer, says spokesman

Statement reveals brain tumor known as glioblastoma was removed along with blood clot above senator’s left eye during surgery last Friday

john mccain
John McCain missed a vote on a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act due to the surgery, which ultimately led to the stalling of the effort. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters

John McCain, the Arizona senator and former Republican presidential candidate, has been diagnosed with brain cancer.

A brain tumor known as a glioblastoma was removed from McCain along with a blood clot in a surgery at the Mayo Clinic on Friday, a spokesperson said on Wednesday.

McCain’s office had only previously announced that the blood clot had been removed from above the 80-year-old’s left eye.

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.”

On Thursday, after a deluge of goodwill messages, McCain tweeted to thank people for the support – and warned his political opponents he would soon be back.

The surgery had forced McCain to stay in Arizona this week and miss votes in the Senate. It had led to a delay in the vote on the Senate Republican bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which was originally scheduled for Monday. Following the delay’s announcement, several Republican senators came forward to express their opposition to the bill, forcing the majority leader, Mitch McConnell, to shelve it and instead try to push a vote on a clean repeal of the ACA.

In a statement, the Arizona senator’s spokesperson said: “In the aftermath of his diagnosis, further consultations with [the] Mayo Clinic care team will indicate when he will return to the United States Senate.”

An extended absence would probably make it even more difficult for Republicans to repeal or replace the ACA, popularly known as Obamacare. Senate Republicans have a narrow 52-48 majority, and, with the tie-breaking vote of Mike Pence, can only afford to lose two votes if McCain is present. His absence means that two Republican “no” votes would sink any legislation if all 48 Democrats were unified in opposition.

McCain, who was 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 North Vietnam, 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.

The Arizona senator’s illness prompted an outpouring of support from both sides of the aisle.

In a statement, Donald Trump said: “Senator John McCain has always been a fighter. Melania and I send our thoughts and prayers to Senator McCain, Cindy, and their entire family. Get well soon.” Trump, who set off a political firestorm in 2015 by saying McCain was “not a war hero”, said earlier in the week of the Arizona senator: “We hope John McCain gets better very soon because we miss him. He’s a crusty voice in Washington. Plus we need his vote. And he’ll be back.”

Barack Obama, who ran against McCain in the 2008 presidential election, tweeted: “John McCain is an American hero & one of the bravest fighters I’ve ever known. Cancer doesn’t know what it’s up against. Give it hell, John.”

The former vice-president Joe Biden, whose son died from brain cancer in 2015, has been friends with McCain for 40 years. “He’s gotten through so much difficulty with so much grace,” Biden tweeted. “He is strong – and he will beat this.”

A number of McCain’s colleagues in the Senate also expressed their well wishes. In a statement, Mitch McConnell said: “John McCain is a hero to our conference and a hero to our country. He has never shied from a fight and I know that he will face this challenge with the same extraordinary courage that has characterized his life. The entire Senate family’s prayers are with John, Cindy and his family, his staff, and the people of Arizona he represents so well. We all look forward to seeing this American hero again soon.”

Outside a meeting of Senate Republicans to discuss healthcare reform on Wednesday night, Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota said they had learned of the diagnosis during the meeting.

“It was very emotional – almost kind of stunned disbelief,” Hoeven told reporters. Senator James Lankford, of Oklahoma, then led them in prayer.

Hoeven said the senators had received a message from McCain via the South Carolina senator Lindsay Graham, a close friend. The senator told them he was eager to “get back and get to work”, Hoeven added.

Graham was visibly emotional as he recalled his conversation with McCain when he learned of the diagnosis.

“He says, ‘I’ve been through worse,’” Graham told reporters. Five minutes into the call, however, McCain wanted to talk about legislative priorities, Graham said.
“God knows how this ends,” he said. “But I do know this: this disease has never had a more worthy opponent.”

In a statement, McCain’s daughter Meghan said: “He is a warrior at dusk, one of the greatest Americans of our age, and the worthy heir to his father’s and grandfather’s name. But to me, he is something more. He is my strength, my example, my refuge, my confidante, my teacher, my rock, my hero – my dad.”

McCain’s doctors told CNN that they discovered the blood clot last week during a routine exam. McCain, whom doctors described as not being a complainer, reported fatigue, which he attributed to his travel schedule, and said he did not feel as sharp as usual. This, along with reports of intermittent double vision, prompted doctors to perform a CT scan.

McCain had left the hospital but was asked to return because of the results of the scan, and he underwent surgery that same day, according to CNN. After the surgery, McCain made it clear he wanted to leave the hospital and return to work, his doctors said. He was discharged Saturday and has been recovering at home.

Lauren Gambino contributed to this report