Sen. John McCain Discontinuing Treatment For Brain Cancer, Family Says
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WASHINGTON (CBS/CNN) - Sen. John McCain, who has battled brain cancer for more than a year, is ending medical treatment, said his family in a statement on Friday.
"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.
McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, is a key voice in the Republican Party and an icon of the Senate.
The statement 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 and daughter both put out additional statements on Twitter.
Cindy McCain, the senator's wife, wrote in a tweet, "I love my husband with all of my heart. God bless everyone who has cared for my husband along this journey."
The senator's daughter, Meghan McCain, said in a tweet, "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."
Last October, McCain was awarded the Constitution Center's prestigious Liberty Medal during a ceremony in Philadelphia. Sen. McCain received the honor for his decades of service to the United States, including his time in the Navy and Senate.
FULL SPEECH: Sen. John McCain's Full Speech At Liberty Medal Ceremony
Before accepting the award, McCain sat down with CBS3's Jessica Dean to talk about his decades of public service, his health and why he wakes up everyday grateful.
"I'm probably the luckiest person you'll ever interview," McCain said as he reflected on the life he's lived. "Because of the life I've had. I mean, to be able to fly airplanes, to be part of an organization filled with people I loved and respected, the ability to serve in the House of Representatives and the Senate, their presidency. I guarantee you if my old company officer had been told that I would be a candidate for anything other than dog catcher, he would have been surprised."
McCain also talked about working with Democrats and how polarizing the media can be.
"Some of the dear friends that I have are on the other side of the aisle. My beloved friend Joe Biden, he and I fight, we used to fight. Ted Kennedy and I fought all the time. But we were friends and when it came time to settle something and because we were of good will we could get it settled and resolved. And I'm worried now the nature of the media today is having an effect, there's no doubt about that. It's so polarized," said McCain.
He continued, "We're still the best experiment in the history of mankind. We're still a shining city on a hill. We're still the strongest and best. We're still an inspiration to those poor people that are suffering all over the world. We're still the model that made so much of the world happy and prosperous that we should be very, very proud of that. We're an unfinished work to say the least, but look around the world, where would you rather be and who would you rather be? I think the answer is very clear."
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