Bloomberg.com
McCain Has Benign Spot Removed From Face, Campaign Aide Says

Jonathan Salant Mon Jul 28, 2:42 PM ET

July 28 (Bloomberg) -- Republican presidential candidate John McCain had a benign blemish removed from his face during a physical examination, said a campaign aide who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The mole-like spot was discovered during the Arizona senator's routine three-month examination, which he undergoes because he has a history of skin cancer. There was no indication cancer had returned, the aide said today. McCain, 71, had a bandage on the right side of his face today.

Last May, McCain released 1,173 pages of medical records showing that he suffers from several health concerns common among people his age, yet has a strong heart and no evidence of a recurrence of a deadly skin cancer removed eight years ago.

McCain had surgery in 2000 to remove melanoma on his left temple. In addition to that tumor, doctors excised early-stage melanomas from McCain's left shoulder in 1993, from his left arm in 2000 and from his nose in 2002.

The records also showed he was treated for an enlarged prostate, underwent cataract surgery and suffers from arthritis. McCain takes medication for high cholesterol and had early stage squamous cell cancer and benign growths in his colon removed this year.

McCain smoked two packs of cigarettes a day for 25 years, quitting in 1980, according to the records. He currently takes aspirin and vitamins each day, medication to lower his cholesterol, and Claritin as needed for allergies. He has a prescription for a sleeping pill to help him rest while traveling.

McCain, a former Navy fighter pilot in the Vietnam War, has limited motion in his shoulders and arms as a result of trauma when he was shot down over North Vietnam and held as a prisoner- of-war for 5 1/2 years.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jonathan D. Salant in Washington at jsalant@bloomberg.net .

RECOMMEND THIS STORY

Recommend It:

Average (Not Rated)

0.0 stars
» Recommended Stories