McCain stops cancer treatment as remarkable life nears end

WASHINGTON (AP) – Arizona Sen. John McCain has discontinued medical treatment for an aggressive type of mind cancer, says his household.

It’s a possible indication that the struggle hero, presidential nominee and longtime main lawmaker is nearing the end of his life.

McCain has surpassed expectations for survival, however “the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict,” the household stated. “With his usual strength of will, he has now chosen to discontinue medical treatment.”

The six-term GOP senator, who would flip 82 subsequent week, has been away from the Capitol since final December.

If he ought to resign his seat or die quickly, Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey would title a alternative to serve till the 2020 election. The winner of that election would serve the rest of McCain’s time period via 2022.

In greater than three many years in Congress, McCain turned recognized as a political maverick prepared to stay to his convictions slightly than associate with get together leaders – an unbiased streak that has drawn a mixture of respect and ire.

Most not too long ago, he has been a thorn within the facet of President Donald Trump, maintaining his criticism of the White House even whereas present process extreme medical treatment in Arizona.

In July, he issued a searing rebuke of Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling it a “tragic mistake” and “one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory.”

The strained relationship between Trump and McCain dates again to 2015, when Trump instructed the Vietnam veteran, who spent greater than 5 years in a North Vietnamese jail after his Navy aircraft was shot down, was not a struggle hero.

The in poor health will grew after McCain voted in 2017 towards a Republican alternative for “Obamacare.” He doomed the invoice with a dramatic thumbs-down on the Senate flooring. Complaints about McCain’s vote have turn out to be a staple of Trump’s marketing campaign speeches. He doesn’t point out McCain by title however makes clear his intent by mockingly imitating the thumbs-down gesture.

The feud between the 2 males has endured even amid the decline in McCain’s well being. While political leaders of each events paid tribute to McCain and provided prayers Friday, Trump and the White House remained silent. Trump didn’t point out McCain or the well being care vote in a speech Friday evening at a fundraising dinner in Ohio.

Earlier this month, Trump signed a navy coverage invoice named for McCain, however he made no point out of McCain at a signing ceremony.

The son and grandson of Navy admirals, McCain is a former Navy pilot. He was elected to Congress in 1982 and to the Senate 4 years later, changing the retired Barry Goldwater.

Despite his well-known cussed streak and occasional orneriness, McCain is extensively admired on either side of the aisle, and tributes poured in Friday after the household introduced the treatment determination.

“We are so fortunate to call him our friend and colleague,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stated on Twitter. McCain, his spouse Cindy “and your complete McCain household are in our prayers at this extremely troublesome hour,” McConnell stated.

Arizona Gov. Ducey referred to as McCain “an American hero” who all the time put his nation earlier than himself.

A “spirt of service and civility” guided McCain’s life, standing as a mannequin for Americans no matter political affiliation, Ducey stated.

Cindy McCain tweeted that she loves her husband “with all of my heart” and thanked those that have cared for him.

McCain underwent surgical procedure in July 2017 to take away a blood clot in his mind after being identified with an aggressive tumor referred to as a glioblastoma. It’s the identical kind of tumor that killed Sen. Edward M. Kennedy at age 77 in 2009.

McCain rebounded rapidly, nevertheless, returning to Washington and getting into the Senate in late July to a standing ovation from his colleagues. In a dramatic flip, he later forged the deciding vote towards the Republican well being care invoice, incomes Trump’s enduring wrath.

McCain’s situation worsened final fall, and he has been in Arizona since December. A supply near McCain who requested to not be recognized stated Friday the senator was at his Arizona ranch together with his household.

He is a long-term survivor of melanoma, a lethal pores and skin cancer. But docs categorized his mind cancer as a “primary tumor,” which means it’s not associated to his former malignancies.

McCain ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, then gained it in 2008 earlier than dropping the overall election to Obama.

When Republicans took management of the Senate in 2015, McCain embraced his new affect as chairman of the Armed Services Committee, pushing for aggressive U.S. navy intervention abroad and wanting to contribute to “defeating the forces of radical Islam that want to destroy America.”

Asked how he wished to be remembered, McCain stated: “That I made a major contribution to the defense of the nation.”

Former Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman, an in depth buddy, stated Friday that “changing into John McCain’s buddy has been one of many nice blessings of my life. Today I’m praying for him and his household.”

Mitt Romney, the GOP’s 2012 presidential nominee, stated on Twitter, “No man this century higher exemplifies honor, patriotism, service, sacrifice and nation first than Senator John McCain. His heroism conjures up, his life shapes our character. I’m blessed and humbled by our friendship.”

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Associated Press author Laurie Kellman contributed to this story.