Republican US Senator John McCain was diagnosed with brain cancer during eye surgery. This is a serious and fatal disease, and patient survival depends on many factors, including age. McCain is 80 years old.
US President Donald Trump has already expressed his support for the senator.
“Senator John McCain has always been a fighter. Melania and I send our prayers to Senator McCain, (his wife - Gazeta.Ru) Cindy and their entire family. Get well soon,” the president’s official message said.
McCain is currently in the hospital. He has already told his colleague Lindsey Graham by phone that he intends to return to duty after treatment.
John McCain serves as head of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He is also on a Senate panel investigating Trump's team's possible ties to Russia. The senator asked his toughest questions to former FBI director James Comey during a recent committee hearing, and reporters noted that his speech was confusing. This could be a consequence of a progressive disease.
McCain is the oldest US senator. In this legislative body he traditionally represents Arizona. In addition, he competed for the presidency several times.
In 2000, McCain vowed to do whatever it took to defeat George W. Bush in the primaries, even comparing himself to Luke Skywalker taking on the Death Star.
Then he won the sympathy of many with his image of an honest warrior.
In 2008, McCain won the Republican primary and was nominated for the last time. However, even despite the support of the extravagant vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin, he lost the election to Democrat Barack Obama.
The son of an admiral, McCain became a military pilot and fought in Vietnam. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the day McCain's plane was shot down over Hanoi and he was captured by North Vietnamese fighters.
He spent five years in Vietnamese captivity and wrote in his memoirs that the conditions in the prison, which the American military called “Hilton,” were difficult. “When they wanted to punish me, they simply took me to a room where there was no mosquito net, no bed, no clothes. Over the course of four days, different guards beat me for two to three hours. My arm and ribs were broken,” the future senator wrote in his memoirs, published in 1973 in US News and World Report.
McCain is one of the main “darlings” of the Russian media, largely due to his harsh statements regarding Russia and its President Vladimir Putin.
In one of his speeches, he called Russia “a gas station pretending to be a country” and Putin a dictator. Those who know McCain say his dislike of the Kremlin grew stronger after the death of Boris Nemtsov, whom he knew well. Nemtsov himself told Gazeta.Ru that McCain “was not a Russophobe” and was interested in the history of Russia and Russian culture.
McCain recently said in an interview with CBS that if the Russian president is not held accountable, he will once again threaten freedom, democracy and world order, not only in the United States and Europe, but throughout the world.
“Because otherwise, he (Vladimir Putin - Gazeta.Ru) will obviously have an incentive to resort to similar tactics again. Does anyone really have any doubts about Putin’s intentions?” - said the senator.
When, during one of the “direct lines,” Putin was asked about McCain and his anti-Russian statements, the Russian president answered quite sharply: “McCain was captured during his time in Vietnam. He sat in a hole, sat there for several years, no wonder he hates everyone. This would make any person go crazy.”
True, Putin recently spoke about him with sympathy in an interview with director Oliver Stone. “In fact, I even like him a little. Yes, yes, I'm not joking now. I like him for his patriotism and his consistency in protecting the interests of his country,” the president said.
The famous Russophobe Senator John McCain was diagnosed with brain cancer. McCain has glioblastoma.
US Senator John McCain suffers from brain cancer.
Information about this diagnosis was confirmed by the office of the senator, known for his Russophobic position. McCain has glioblastoma*, one of the most aggressive types of cancer.
The cancer was discovered during an operation on July 14 - then in the city of Phoenix (Arizona), McCain successfully removed a 5-centimeter blood clot in the area of his left eye.
The specialist who participated in the operation, which lasted more than three hours, told CNN that the legislator was diagnosed with glioblastoma, associated with the formation of a removed blood clot.
John McCain, 80, a Republican senator from Arizona and former US presidential candidate, is recovering “surprisingly well” from the surgery, the Mayo Clinic said in a statement.
“The senator and his family are considering all possible options for further treatment,” the doctors said. According to them, a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy is possible.
McCain said in a statement that the 80-year-old senator is currently in good health and will be away from business for at least the next week.
McCain is among those senators who have come out with the harshest criticism of Russia. The legislator has repeatedly called for the introduction of new anti-Russian sanctions.
The day before, due to McCain's health, hearings in the US Congress on the repeal of the health care reform during the presidency of Barack Obama, known as Obamacare, were postponed.
President and Vice President Pence, as well as former President Obama, expressed support for the senator and his family. Trump wished him a speedy recovery.
* Glioblastoma (Glioblastoma multiforme, GBM) is the most common and most aggressive form of brain tumor, accounting for up to 52% of primary brain tumors and up to 20% of all intracranial tumors. Despite the fact that glioblastoma is the most common primary brain tumor, only 2-3 cases of the disease are registered per 100,000 inhabitants of Europe and North America.
The term "glioblastoma" refers to two variants of this disease: giant cell glioblastoma and Gliosarcoma.
Glioblastoma is more common in men. Most cases of glioblastoma are sporadic, with no genetic predisposition. There is no established connection between glioblastoma and smoking, consumption of canned meat, or exposure to electromagnetic fields. Alcohol consumption may be a risk factor.
The incidence of glioblastoma is associated with SV40, HHV-6 and cytomegalovirus viruses. There is a slight dependence of glioblastoma on ionizing radiation. There has been a connection between cases of brain tumors and malaria. It is suspected that the malaria mosquito, which carries malaria, may transmit a virus or other agent that may increase the risk of glioblastoma.
US Senator John McCain has promised to return to work after surgery to remove a brain tumor. Oncologist and confidant of the Russian President Larisa Fechina said that rehabilitation in such cases consists of several stages.
According to Larisa Fechina, rehabilitation measures in the treatment of tumors of the central nervous system are of great importance. The patient needs to restore functions that are “lost” during intervention in the brain or spinal cord.
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At the same time, an individual program is drawn up for everyone. “It provides, for example, verticalization of the patient if he is not able to independently maintain an upright position. In the future, they are transferred to clinical oncologists,” NSN quotes the doctor.
She noted that rehabilitation methods do not include exposure to contraindicated physical fields or ionizing radiation. “This is mainly mechanotherapy and water procedures,” the specialist explained and added that in Russia half of the patients recover through the process of rehabilitation.
Fechina emphasized that in the United States, cancer treatment is at a high level. It follows from this that McCain's chances are great. According to the politician, he also coped with more difficult situations.
Let us recall that on July 19, John McCain was diagnosed with glioblastoma (brain cancer). American President Donald Trump, former leader of the country Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other famous people have already expressed support for the senator.
MOSCOW, July 20 – RIA Novosti. US Senator John McCain has been diagnosed with brain cancer. Doctors have already performed surgery on the politician to remove the tumor; he is now in the Mayo Clinic hospital in Phoenix (Arizona).
Political scientist: McCain is considered an extraordinary politician in the United StatesUS Senator John McCain has promised to return to work after surgery to remove a brain tumor. American political scientist Viktor Olevich, speaking on Sputnik radio, noted the specific position of the senator in the foreign and domestic policies of the United States.According to doctors, the 80-year-old senator and his family are “exploring options for further treatment.” McCain himself promised to return to work after he recovers from surgery.
“Yes, I’ll have to stay home a little longer and undergo treatment. I’ll be back,” the politician told his friend and Senate colleague Lindsey Graham.
"Let's pray. God knows how this will end, not me. But I know one thing: this disease has never faced such a serious opponent," Graham added in an interview with the Associated Press.
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in turn, McCain is an “extraordinarily strong” person.
What is John McCain known for?
John McCain has been a member of the Senate for more than 30 years and is considered one of the most authoritative American politicians.
McCain was born on August 29, 1936 into a family of hereditary military men. His grandfather and father were four-star admirals in the US Navy. The future senator himself graduated from the US Naval Academy, becoming a carrier-based aviation pilot.
In 1967, during the Vietnam War, McCain's plane was shot down by a Soviet missile over Hanoi and the pilot was captured. He was released only five and a half years later, when Vietnam and the United States signed the Paris Peace Agreements.
McCain left the military in 1981 with the rank of captain, after which he joined the Republican Party and entered politics. In 1986, he was elected senator from the state of Arizona, a post the politician still holds.
In 2008, McCain won the Republican primaries and competed for the presidency of the United States. Then Barack Obama won the election, receiving 338 electoral votes out of 538. At the same time, McCain lost even in several traditionally Republican states; experts attributed this to his tough immigration program.
In 2015, John McCain headed the Armed Services Committee of the upper house of Congress.
Anti-Russian position
The Republican senator is also known for his strong anti-Russian stance. Thus, in May, he said that Russia threatens world security more than the Islamic State*.
"I think ISIS can do terrible things, and I'm very concerned about what's happening to the Muslim faith, I'm worried about a lot of things about that. But it's the Russians who are trying to destroy the foundations of democracy, in other words, change the results of the American elections. I haven't seen evidence that they succeeded, but they tried and are still trying to change the outcome of the election,” the senator said then, adding that he had not seen evidence of “Russian interference” in the American electoral process.
"I think Vladimir Putin, who has split Ukraine, a sovereign state, who is putting pressure on the Baltic states, I think the Russians are the biggest challenge we have," McCain added.
Despite McCain's tough stance, President Vladimir Putin said he sympathizes with the senator.
“In fact, I even like him a little bit. Yes, yes, yes, I’m not kidding now, I like him for his patriotism and consistency in defending the interests of his country,” the president told director Oliver Stone during the filming of the documentary “Interview with Putin."
At the same time, the Russian leader noted that politicians like McCain “still live in the old world and do not want to look into the future.”
*Terrorist organization banned in Russia.
Today, July 20, it became known about the illness of US Senator John McCain - he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The politician himself has already promised to return to government work after undergoing treatment, and Donald Trump, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and his colleagues in the Senate expressed support for him. McCain is known for his high-profile initiatives and open criticism of Russia and its leadership. "360" tells about the main episodes in the career of 80-year-old John McCain.
Military man, senator and presidential candidate
John McCain, following in the footsteps of his father, decided to connect his life with military service by entering the US Naval Academy. After graduation, in 1958, he qualified as a naval pilot, and in 1966 he became a participant in combat operations in Vietnam.
Since 1986, he has been involved in political activities and since then has permanently held a seat in the Senate, being a representative of the state of Arizona.
In 2000, he decided to try himself as a candidate for US President
from the Republican Party, providing serious competition to Bush Jr. But he failed to win - the vote margin was 11%.
On February 27, 2007, McCain again announced the start of his presidential election campaign, but lost the election to Barack Obama with a result of 45.7%.
Critic of Russia
McCain is also known as a great critic of the Kremlin - back in 2005, he introduced a draft resolution in the US Senate demanding the suspension of Russia's membership in the G8, and in 2016 he became one of the initiators of the adoption of a law on imposing sanctions in connection with the attempts of the Russian Federation influence the US presidential election.
And in May 2017, commenting on the upcoming meeting between Putin and Trump, he noted that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov “has nothing to do in the White House,” calling him “a puppet of a thug and a murderer.”
In addition, in 2013, the American senator advocated striking a target of the Syrian army and government, and two years later called on US President Barack Obama to provide Ukraine with legal weapons for combat operations in the Donbass.
In early July of this year, McCain demanded that the US Senate adopt tough sanctions against Russia so that “Putin would pay a significant price for his attack on American democracy.” Then McCain also stated the need to develop a clear policy for a prompt response to possible aggression and increased US presence in Eastern Europe.
"I'll be back"
On July 20, 2017, it is known that after surgery to remove a five-centimeter blood clot above the left eye, doctors diagnosed McCain with glioblastoma (a brain tumor). As Reuters reports, citing a statement from the Mayo Clinic, the senator and his family are now considering additional treatment options, including chemotherapy and radiation.
According to neurosurgeon Sanjay Gupta, glioblastoma is the most aggressive of all cancers. It is formed in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord, and the average lifespan of patients is only 14 months, even with treatment.
McCain's colleague Lindsey Graham said the senator said he would return to work immediately after undergoing treatment. Graham himself noted that “the disease has never faced such a strong opponent” and called for prayers for McCain.
Let's pray. God knows how this will end, not me. But I know one thing: this disease has never faced such a serious opponent
Lindsey Graham.
Wishes for a speedy recovery, communication with the diagnosed disease, and Donald Trump with his wife Melania. According to the American president, the senator has always been distinguished by his fighting spirit.
Senator John McCain has always been a fighter. Melania and I send our thoughts and prayers to Senator McCain, [his wife] Cindy and their entire family. Get well soon
Donald Trump.
Republican Party leader Mitch McConnell also expressed words of support for McCain, calling him a hero and noting that he was looking forward to his return to Washington.
We all look forward to the return of this American hero soon
Mitch McConnell.
Barack Obama and former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also sent their words of support and wishes for a speedy recovery to the senator.
