Senator John McCain has announced that he will discontinue medical treatment for his brain cancer diagnosis. This was confirmed via a statement from his family on Friday who said his ‘advanced age’ played a role in the Senator’s decision and that the ‘family is immensely grateful for the support and kindness of all his caregivers over the last year’.
Via CNN:
“Last summer, Senator John McCain shared with Americans the news our family already knew: he had been diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma, and the prognosis was serious. In the year since, John has surpassed expectations for his survival. But the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict. With his usual strength of will, he has now chosen to discontinue medical treatment,” the family of the Arizona Republican said in a statement.
The statement from McCain’s family went on to say, “Our family is immensely grateful for the support and kindness of all his caregivers over the last year, and for the continuing outpouring of concern and affection from John’s many friends and associates, and the many thousands of people who are keeping him in their prayers. God bless and thank you all.”
McCain’s wife Cindy and his daughter Meghan also released the following statements on Twitter:
I love my husband with all of my heart. God bless everyone who has cared for my husband along this journey. pic.twitter.com/v27sEbboii
— Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) August 24, 2018
My family is deeply appreciative of all the love and generosity you have shown us during this past year. Thank you for all your continued support and prayers. We could not have made it this far without you – you've given us strength to carry on. pic.twitter.com/KuAQSASoa7
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) August 24, 2018
Members on the Hill also gave reaction to the news regarding McCain including Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, house speaker Paul Ryan and senate minority leader Chuck Schumer.
Very sad to hear this morning’s update from the family of our dear friend @SenJohnMcCain. We are so fortunate to call him our friend and colleague. John, Cindy, and the entire McCain family are in our prayers at this incredibly difficult hour.
— Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) August 24, 2018
John McCain personifies service to our country. The whole House is keeping John and his family in our prayers during this time.
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) August 24, 2018
My thoughts and prayers are with Senator McCain and his family. https://t.co/cqHXdjJntj
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) August 24, 2018
McCain was first elected to congress as a state representative in Arizona’s first district in 1982 having taken office the following year. He would go on to serve in the House until he was elected to the senate in 1986 taking the seat of former GOP presidential nominee Barry Goldwater. Eventually, McCain would seek out his own presidential bid in 2000 losing the republican primary to George W. Bush and in 2008 when he lost the general election to Barack Obama.
Despite his unsuccessful run for president, McCain’s longevity and somewhat unpredictable stance on the issues made the Arizona senator a key figure in American politics. This perhaps came to a head last summer with his famous thumbs-down vote on the republican effort to repeal Obamacare. And not to mention as a pretty big GOP critic of Donald Trump.
Aside from his political career, McCain will also most certainly be remembered for his remarkable will during his time as POW during the Vietnam War when his plane was shot down by the North Vietnamese during a bombing run in 1967. During his captivity McCain routinely suffered daily physical and mental torture that would last until his release in 1973. As a result of this McCain was left with a variety of physical scars and ailments that stay with him for the rest of his life.
