Senator John McCain Battles Brain Cancer With Resilience And Grace

Sain April 19, 2025

Hey there, friends. Let's talk about a true American hero. Senator John McCain has been through so much in his life, and now he's facing another challenge—brain cancer. On December 13, his office released a statement letting us know that he's currently receiving treatment at Walter Reed Medical Center for some normal side effects from his ongoing cancer therapy. Despite the hardships, Senator McCain remains incredibly grateful to his doctors and to all of you for your encouragement and support. He's determined to get back to work as soon as he can.

Now, John McCain, who turned 81 this year, shared some tough news back on July 19 when he revealed that he had been diagnosed with brain cancer. He underwent surgery to remove a glioblastoma, which is an aggressive type of brain tumor. In a heartfelt interview with CBS's 20/20 in September, McCain opened up about the diagnosis. "They told me the prognosis is very, very serious," he said. "Some say there's only a three percent chance of survival, others say 14 percent. But you know, I just said, 'I understand. Now we're going to do what we can, find the best doctors we can, and fight this thing with everything we've got.' At the same time, I'm celebrating a life well-lived with gratitude."

Back when the diagnosis was first made, McCain's office and the Mayo Clinic released a joint statement explaining that John had undergone a procedure to remove a blood clot associated with the tumor above his left eye at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix. "Scans taken after the minimally invasive craniotomy with an eyebrow incision showed that the tissue of concern was completely removed," the statement explained. "Senator McCain and his family are reviewing further treatment options with his Mayo Clinic care team, which may include a combination of chemotherapy and radiation." Glioblastomas are typically highly cancerous, but John's doctors noted that he recovered "amazingly well" after the surgery, adding that his overall health remains excellent. The clot was discovered during a routine physical, and they acted quickly to address it.

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Senator McCain has received an outpouring of support from his constituents and colleagues since revealing his diagnosis. Even President Donald Trump shared his support, saying, "Senator John McCain has always been a fighter. Melania and I send our thoughts and prayers to Senator McCain, Cindy, and their entire family. Get well soon." That's the kind of respect John has earned throughout his storied career.

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Thank you for all the birthday messages! It's been wonderful celebrating with family in Arizona doing the things we love most.
A post shared by John McCain (@senjohnmccain) on Aug 29, 2017 at 5:03pm PDT

Following the news, Senator McCain's daughter Meghan also spoke out, reminding everyone of her father's incredible resilience. She tweeted, "It won't surprise you to learn that in all this, the one of us who is most confident and calm is my father. He is the toughest person I know. The cruelest enemy couldn't break him. The aggressions of political life couldn't bend him. So he's meeting this challenge like he's met every other. Cancer may afflict him in many ways, but it won't make him surrender. Nothing ever has." Those words really hit home, don't they?

In another July statement, his office reassured everyone that McCain was doing well. "Senator McCain appreciates the outpouring of support he has received over the last few days. He is in good spirits as he continues to recover at home with his family in Arizona. He is grateful to the doctors and staff at Mayo Clinic for their outstanding care and is confident that any future treatment will be effective. Further consultations with Senator McCain's Mayo Clinic care team will indicate when he will return to the United States Senate." That's the kind of optimism and strength we need to see in our leaders.