Sen. McCain calls brain cancer prognosis "pretty good"
Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, says battling brain cancer is a challenge but that his prognosis is "pretty good."
Speaking in his first interview since his diagnosis, McCain acknowledged the situation has been tough on his family but says he is optimistic. He says he has "faced other challenges" and he's "very confident about getting through this as well."
The 81-year-old Arizona senator says he will have a MRI Monday and that his test results so far have been "excellent."
McCain, diagnosed with Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer late last month, has already successfully undergone his first round of radiation and chemotherapy and spent most of his recess at home with family. He returned back to Washington for work in the Senate late last week.
He left the Congress before the August recess to begin his recovery, following a dramatic Senate floor vote that subsequently helped end the GOP's effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Days earlier, he gave a stirring speech to his colleagues on the floor, thanking them for their support in his health fight, but urging lawmakers to return to "regular order" amid persistent partisan divides.
Daughter Meghan McCain tweeted regular updates of the six-term senator's recovery, sharing photos of the two on frequent mountain hikes at his Arizona home.
He says he will now be focusing on a defense bill this week.
Asked on CNN's "State of the Union" how he wants to be remembered, McCain said: He "served this country and I hope honorably."