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Senator John McCain discontinuing cancer treatment | Senator John McCain discontinuing cancer treatment |
(about 1 hour later) | |
US Republican Senator John McCain will no longer be continuing treatment for his brain cancer, his family has announced. | US Republican Senator John McCain will no longer be continuing treatment for his brain cancer, his family has announced. |
His family said he had "surpassed expectations for his survival" and made the choice to end his treatment. | |
Mr McCain, 81, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain tumour last summer and had been undergoing treatment since July 2017. | Mr McCain, 81, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain tumour last summer and had been undergoing treatment since July 2017. |
He left Washington in December, but has remained a vocal political figure. | |
He has, at times, been a fierce critic of President Donald Trump. | He has, at times, been a fierce critic of President Donald Trump. |
His family said in a statement shared with US media: "Last year, 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." | His family said in a statement shared with US media: "Last year, 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 chosen to discontinue medical treatment." | "With his usual strength of will, he has chosen to discontinue medical treatment." |
The six-term senator and 2008 Republican presidential nominee was diagnosed after doctors discovered his tumour during surgery to remove a blood clot from above his left eye last July. | |
The son and grandson of Navy admirals, Mr McCain was a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War. When his plane was shot down, he spent more than five years as a prisoner of war. | |
While in the custody of his captors, he was tortured and suffered numerous injuries that left him with lingering disabilities. | |
What's the reaction? | |
In a tweet, Meghan McCain, Mr McCain's daughter, said that her family "is deeply appreciative of all the love and generosity" they have received over the past year. | In a tweet, Meghan McCain, Mr McCain's daughter, said that her family "is deeply appreciative of all the love and generosity" they have received over the past year. |
His wife, Cindy McCain, also shared the family's statement on Twitter, saying: "I love my husband with all of my heart. God bless everyone who has cared for my husband along the journey." | His wife, Cindy McCain, also shared the family's statement on Twitter, saying: "I love my husband with all of my heart. God bless everyone who has cared for my husband along the journey." |
Mr McCain represented his state in the Senate and House for 35 years and has been a strong voice within the Republican party. | Mr McCain represented his state in the Senate and House for 35 years and has been a strong voice within the Republican party. |
Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell said he was "very sad" to hear the news. | Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell said he was "very sad" to hear the news. |
House Speaker Paul Ryan said Mr McCain "personifies service to our country". | House Speaker Paul Ryan said Mr McCain "personifies service to our country". |
Former Republican presidential nominee and current senate candidate Mitt Romney echoed those sentiments, saying "no man this century better exemplifies honour, patriotism, service, sacrifice and country first". | |
Former Secretary of State John Kerry called his fellow Vietnam veteran "a brave man". | Former Secretary of State John Kerry called his fellow Vietnam veteran "a brave man". |
The McCain-Trump feud | |
Mr McCain's tense relationship with the president began in 2015, when he said then-candidate Trump had "fired up the crazies" at his rallies with controversial remarks on immigration. | |
Mr Trump hit back by saying Mr McCain was only considered a hero because he was a prisoner of war, adding: "I like people who weren't captured." | |
Perhaps Mr McCain's most dramatic pushback against Mr Trump came last July, when he provided the deciding vote against a Trump-backed Obamacare repeal bill. | |
When he cast his vote with a thumbs-down, he still sported a scar and black eye from his surgery. | |
Where is he now? | |
He left Capitol Hill last December to begin treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. In April, he underwent surgery again for an intestinal infection. | He left Capitol Hill last December to begin treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. In April, he underwent surgery again for an intestinal infection. |
Mr McCain has been recovering from treatments and receiving physical therapy from a team of caregivers at his home near Sedona since leaving Washington. | Mr McCain has been recovering from treatments and receiving physical therapy from a team of caregivers at his home near Sedona since leaving Washington. |
He turns 82 on 29 August. | |
Glioblastoma is a particularly aggressive brain cancer, and increases in frequency with age, affecting more men than women. | Glioblastoma is a particularly aggressive brain cancer, and increases in frequency with age, affecting more men than women. |
At the time, his daughter said that the family reacted with "shock" to the diagnosis. | At the time, his daughter said that the family reacted with "shock" to the diagnosis. |
"It won't surprise you to learn that in all of this, the one of us who is most confident and calm is my father," she said on Twitter. | "It won't surprise you to learn that in all of this, the one of us who is most confident and calm is my father," she said on Twitter. |
"So he is meeting this challenge as he has every other. Cancer may afflict him in many ways: but it will not make him surrender. Nothing ever has." | "So he is meeting this challenge as he has every other. Cancer may afflict him in many ways: but it will not make him surrender. Nothing ever has." |
In his memoir, released in May, Mr McCain said: "Before I leave, I'd like to see our politics begin to return to the purposes and practices that distinguish our history from the history of other nations. | |
"I'd like to see us recover our sense that we are more alike than different." |