BEGIN QUOTE FROM:
Sen. John McCain
has brain cancer,
aggressive tumor
surgically removed
has brain cancer,
aggressive tumor
surgically removed
CNN · 4 hours ago
Sen. John McCain has brain cancer, aggressive tumor surgically removed
By Susan Scutti, CNN
Updated 8:56 PM ET, Wed July 19, 2017
Story highlights
- Lab results from a surgery on Friday confirmed the presence of glioblastoma associated with the blood clot
- Post-surgical brain scans show the tissue causing concern has been completely removed
(CNN)Sen.
John McCain, 80, has been diagnosed with a primary glioblastoma, a type
of brain tumor, Mayo Clinic doctors directly involved in the senator's
care told CNN exclusively. The doctors spoke directly to CNN Chief
Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
The
senator underwent surgery to remove a blood clot on Friday at Mayo
Clinic Hospital in Phoenix. Lab results from that surgery confirmed the
presence of brain cancer associated with the blood clot.
Glioblastoma is a particularly aggressive tumor that forms in the tissue of the brain and spinal cord, according to the American Brain Tumor Association.
A
pathologist was in the operating room during the procedure, a minimally
invasive craniotomy with an eyebrow incision, said his doctor, who
added that the surgery lasted about three to four hours. Post-surgical
brain scans show the tissue causing concern has been completely removed.
McCain is recovering "amazingly well," according to a statement from his office.
The
senator showed no neurological problems before or after the operation,
said his doctors. Though not identified by name, at McCain's request,
his doctors were given permission to speak with Gupta, who is also a
practicing neurosurgeon.
McCain is
now recovering at his Arizona home. He and his family are considering
treatment options, which will likely include radiation and chemotherapy,
his doctors said.
"The news of my father's illness has affected every one of us in the McCain Family," tweeted Meghan McCain on Wednesday. "It won't surprise you to learn that in all this, the one of us who is most confident and calm is my father."
Routine exam
Doctors
discovered the clot during a routine physical exam last week. They said
he is very diligent about coming in for scheduled exams and is seen
every four months for skin checks due to his history of skin cancer.
He
arrived at his early morning appointment, Friday before 8 a.m. and as
per usual, looked good, according to a doctor who has been involved in
his care for nearly a decade. McCain, described as not being a
complainer, did report feeling fatigued, which he attributed to a
rigorous travel schedule.
He also
told his doctor he had, at times, felt foggy and not as sharp as he
typically is. In addition, he reported having intermittent double
vision. These symptoms and doctor intuition prompted a CT scan.
When
the results came back, McCain, who had already left the clinic, was
asked to return for an MRI. Before the operation, his neurological exam
was normal, according to his doctor.
The
operation began in the late afternoon and the senator was recovering in
the ICU by evening. His doctors told Gupta they were amazed at how
sharp McCain was when he awoke. He knew what year it was and started
cracking jokes. He also made it clear that he wanted to leave the
hospital and get back to work, his doctors said.
Showing no signs of cognitive delays, McCain was discharged Saturday and has been recovering at his home since then.
His doctors would not reveal details but said his post operative care is standard.
'Aggressive tumor'
His doctor said McCain was oriented, with good balance and no headaches or seizures.
The
clot was over the senator's left eye, not far from the left temple
where he was diagnosed with melanoma in 2000. Previously, McCain had
three other malignant melanomas removed in 1993, 2000 and 2002. None of
these melanomas were invasive. All were declared Stage 0.
However, McCain has been regularly screened by his doctors since 2000.
Gupta
was one of a select group of reporters who reviewed McCain's medical
records in 2008 when he was campaigning for president.
The
surgical procedure McCain underwent is "a significant operation," said
Gupta, explaining that a bone underneath the eyebrow had to be removed
to do the procedure and then later put back.
"It's
a very aggressive tumor," said Gupta. He explained that average
survival for malignant glioblastoma tends to be around 14 months with
treatment. In McCain's case, additional therapy, including radiation,
could not begin until the incision heals, which would be in the next
three or four weeks.
Still, one 2009 study reported
that almost 10% of patients with glioblastoma may live five years or
longer, according to the American Brain Tumor Association.
"This is the same tumor that Ted Kennedy had," said Gupta.
McCain's
diagnosis is the latest chapter in a storied life. Tortured as a
Vietnam prisoner-of-war, the maverick politician fell short of the
pinnacle of politics with two failed presidential runs. His absence from
Washington in recent days has come at a politically inopportune time
for a bill repealing and replacing Obamacare. This week, McCain broke
ranks and called for discussions with Democrats and a full committee
process to finally provide "Americans with access to quality and
affordable health care."
Debra Goldschmidt and Dan Berman contributed to this story.
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