A Look At McCain's Medical Records

Three-Time Melanoma Survivor Appears Cancer-Free And To Be In Otherwise Good Health

(CBS/AP)  John McCain, seeking to become the oldest elected first-term president, gets an in-depth skin cancer check every few months because of a medical history his own dermatologist calls "remarkable" for its number of dangerous melanomas.

He now appears cancer-free, has a strong heart and is in generally good health, according to eight years of medical records McCain's presidential campaign made available Friday as it sought to prove that, at 71, he is healthy enough - and not too old - to serve as president.

"It was pretty remarkable to get that level of detail about a candidate," noted CBS News contributor Sanjay Gupta -- though, he added, there was "hardly any mention of his mental health" in the records.

The fair-skinned Republican nominee-in-waiting, who also sustained severe sun damage from his 5½ years in Vietnamese prison camps, remains at risk for developing new skin cancers. He regularly has precancerous lesions and more common, easy-to-cure skin cancers removed.

It has been six years since his last episode of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer - and eight years since a melanoma invaded his skin deeply enough to scare his doctors. His dermatologist found no worrisome lesions during his most recent exam, less than two weeks ago.

"Senator McCain enjoys excellent health and displays extraordinary energy. And while it's impossible to predict any person's future health, I and my colleagues can find no medical reason or problems that would preclude Senator McCain of fulfilling all the duties and obligations of the president of the United States," Mayo Clinic internist Dr. John Eckstein, his longtime personal physician, told reporters in a conference call.

He added: "Age should not be a limiting factor in this day and age."

McCain has shrugged off questions about his age by highlighting his stamina and strong genes. His likely Democratic rival, Barack Obama, is 46, lean and agile, and a frequent basketball player who says he has quit smoking. Neither he nor Democratic opponent Hillary Rodham Clinton has released health records.

While melanoma may be McCain's personal foe, cardiovascular disease is the nation's leading killer, especially with age. And Eckstein pronounced McCain's heart strong - with no signs of blood-flow problems during an intense stress test - and his cholesterol and blood pressure, while not perfect, fine.

The doctor told the Associated Press in an interview: "I think physiologically he is considerably younger than his chronologic age based on his cardiovascular fitness."

"His heart functions seemed good in 2000, and it seemed the same in 2008," said Gupta.

Melanoma raises the biggest health concerns. McCain has had four separate spots of melanoma removed from his head and arm on three occasions - in 1993, 2000 and 2002. Three spots were very early stage, when they were in the uppermost skin surface and easily cut out.

But one, on his left temple in 2000, was invasive melanoma, what doctors call an "intermediate risk" melanoma because of its thickness - 2.2 millimeters. McCain required delicate surgery to remove and examine lymph nodes that showed no sign of spread.

"We don't have a crystal ball, but we have no way to say anything at the present time would preclude him from running for office," Dr. Suzanne Connolly, McCain's Mayo dermatologist, told the AP. In November 2004, she wrote that her patient's history was "remarkable for multiple melanomas."

---

CBSNews.com Reports: Critics Try To Make McCain's Age An Issue

---

The 10-year survival rate for that intermediate melanoma is 65 percent, said Dr. Stuart Lessin, director of the melanoma risk-assessment program at Philadelphia's Fox Chase Cancer Center. He was not involved in McCain's care.

"He's not cured," Lessin said. Still, the biggest risk of recurrence is in the first few years, so at eight years out, the chances of melanoma returning at that spot and killing McCain is "in the single digits," he added. "He's pretty much out of the woods."

But every bout of cancer increases the risk of another new cancer. Given McCain's fair skin and history of sunburns, he has a 5 percent to 8 percent chance of developing a fifth melanoma, Lessin calculated. Good checkups, however, mean any future melanoma should be caught in time to be treated successfully, he said.

McCain's most recent exams show a range of health issues common in aging: He had benign colon polyps removed during a routine colonoscopy in March, growths that are common with age and that sometimes turn cancerous unless taken out.

He takes medication to keep his cholesterol in check and just switched from the controversial Vytorin that made headlines this winter to a proven standby, simvastatin.

The Vietnam veteran has degenerative arthritis from war injuries that might mean a future joint replacement.

He's had kidney stones and in 2001 had his enlarged prostate reduced; it shows no sign of cancer, then or in his latest exam. And he was a two-pack-a-day smoker until quitting in 1980.

During his first presidential run, eight years ago, McCain disclosed hundreds of pages of records to reporters as he sought then to counter what aides called a "whisper campaign" questioning his mental fitness. In those records, medical personnel concluded that his years in prison, including solitary confinement, left him with no psychological wounds. Aides said McCain has had no mental evaluations in the past eight years.

This time, a small group of reporters reviewed 1,173 pages of medical documents that span 2000 to 2008 over several hours in a conference room at a resort just outside Phoenix and a few miles from the posh Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, where McCain receives most of his medical care under a pseudonym - which reporters were asked not to disclose. Coincidentally, the release came the same week that McCain's close friend, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, revealed that he had a cancerous brain tumor.

The documents include mundane personal details, such as the fact that he had earwax removed earlier this year and the dermatologist showed his wife, Cindy, how to monitor possibly suspicious skin spots hidden by his waistband. Though he's known as temperamental, the doctors made a point of repeatedly writing in the documents that he was "pleasant."

Also revealed: He has occasional momentary episodes of dizziness, when he gets up suddenly. McCain first told a doctor about them in 2000 - the visit that also uncovered the melanoma - and intense testing concluded they were harmless vertigo. He didn't report any episodes at his most recent exam.

Overall, CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook said, McCain "actually stacks up pretty well" compared to past presidents from a health perspective.

[obamaslady]

Of course he would "dump" them on a holiday weekend in an attempt to keep them out of the MSM and an attempt to keep them from being inspected. I AM SICK TO DEATH OF POLITICIANS WHO DUMP IMPORTANT RECORDS OVER WEEKENDS WHEN THE MSM IS NOT LOOKING AND THEY THINK THE PUBLIC IS ALSO NOT LOOKING. But I am looking and refuse to let this fall through the cracks! I will make it my business to insert the findings in every blog available from now until the GE, so he can''t run and hide as he loves to do with everything else in life! Not this time!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cliff-schecter/the-real-mccain-goes-vira_b_102626.html

[libh8er]

But I am looking and refuse to let this fall through the cracks! Posted by ObamasLady at 08:57 AM : May 23, 2008

In other words, you''re gonna do all you can EXCEPT call for Ubama to release his medical records. Typical bedwetting lib.

If I recall, Ubama is a smoker (probably Kools or Newports). I want to know if he has black lung (no pun intended) or some kind of cancer.

[mjvw2]

more than john skerry ever did

[nothappyatall]

The guy will be 73 in the first year of the new presidency- TOO OLD, and just because his heart is strong doesnt mean anything, I knew an 86 year old fellow who had a medical checkup and was found in excellent condition, good heart, BP etc, a month later he was dead from a cerebral hemmorhage.

[watcher269-2009]

X-rays prove - there''s no Heart! No Brain either - just a hand coming from his back with Cheney''s Fingerprints on it!

McShame - Just another OLD PUPPET!

[barbaraf4]

How wonderful that we are furnishing Senator McCain with such a comprehensive medical plan. Those cholesterol medications that were so casually mentioned run $100 per month. I''m pretty sure he doesn''t have the "hole" in his Medicare prescription coverage. No sir, no maximum coverage cutoff for a US Senator.

While my taxes are covering all these Washington freeloaders, I''m paying $500 a month for medical insurance with a $2500 annual deductable. Last year, I didn''t even meet my deductable even with an MRI.

[homjett]

Anyone who thinks that this will not be the top story for all of next week on CNN, MsNBC (the Obama Channel),all three major news networks, is dreaming. They have already started. I wish they would give as much attention to why we are not allowed to Drill an build more refinieries, an why we did not see more of Congress''s waste of time with blaming the Oil Companies an not THEMSELVES. Where is our media when the folks really need them. Or is it the Liberal bias that gets in their way of honest reporting.

[ptsdveteran]

Bet you nobody will say anything about his PTSD. I wouldn''t trust him around those " RED BUTTONS". He can''t even give a speach without reading it!!! His old mind won''t work long enough to memorize one. Where are Cindys medical records? You know, the ones that show her drug addiction!!!!!

[omaar-101]

Talk About ''Inexperience''

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/20
/mccain-confronted-with-ne_n_102614.html


Let''s be clear: Iran has a very complex system of government with varying institutions, but at the top of it sits Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who essentially has only accountable to the Council of Guardians made up of clerics, many of whom are appointed by Khamenei.

So, Ahmadinejad is not the leader.

And as the Council on Foreign Relations explains, especially in the area of foreign policy, Ahmadinejad has very little influence.

On top of that as Klein points out, the Presidents job is to educate the public on questions of policy.

So if the "average American" thinks that Ahmadinejad is the ultimate leader of Iran, its up to the President to dissuade them of this notion - not reinforce it.

Back in 2002 more then half of Americans thought Saddam was responsible for 9/11 and President Bush did nothing to disprove this assumption (In fact, while never directly claiming that Saddam was responsible for 9/11 the Administration did everything it could to reinforce the notion).

That doesnt mean our policy should be based on those false assumptions.

[omaar-101]

John McCain: ''No Country, For Old Men''


McCain`s Mind Slipping...Again

Yesterday, Time''s Joe Klein noted that he could find no evidence that Sen. Barack Obama had ever specifically said he would negotiate with Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad:

On Friday, I promised to check into whether Obama had ever said that he would negotiate--specifically, by name -- with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Indeed, according to the crack Time Magazine research department and the Obama campaign.... HE NEVER HAS.

He did say that he would negotiate with the Iranian leadership -- but, on matters of foreign policy and Irans nuclear program, the guy in charge is the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

As of today, John McCain was still accusing Obama of wanting to negotiate with Ahmadinejad.

Why doesnt the McCain campaign and other assorted Republicans ever accuse Obama of wanting to negotiate with Khamenei?

Well, because Khamenei isnt quite the flagrant anti-Semite Ahmadinejad is...

And, as we keep hearing, Obama has a Jewish problem.
Later in the day, Klein confronted McCain with this question at a press conference.

For a foreign policy "Expert," McCain clearly has a pattern of getting the (Basic Facts Wrong).


McCain insisted that ultimate political authority in Iran rests with Ahmadinejad --

Note: In fact, according to the (CIA`s World Factbook), Ultimate Political Authority in Iran Rests with Supreme

Leader Ali Khamenei, not the president.

[omaar-101]

Jesse Ventura: On John Mccain

KING: I know you disagree with a lot of his politics, but aren''t you -- dont you have a little emotional tilt toward John McCain in that of his war service record?

You were a Navy SEAL. Dont you feel a bond?

VENTURA: Well, I greatly respect Senator McCain. Certainly we have a bond. Were both Navy men. And I wish him well.

But what troubles me more, Larry, is Hypocrisy. And in the case of John McCain, we have a Huge Hypocrisy in this Country.

And that is this -- how is it that a federal employee -- if you work for the federal government, you''re required to retire by age 65.

And yet you can run for president and be the head of the very federal government, have the most stressful job in America and you can do it at any age. I don''t get that.

John McCain could not get hired by the federal government to work, but he can become the leader of the Federal Government, because -- he couldnt get Hired because ''He''s Too Old''.

[omaar-101]

McCain On Baptism Plans: ''It''s a Private Thing.''


From CNN''s Rebecca Sinderbrand, CNN''s Tasha Diakides


For the most part, McCain keeps a veil of PRIVACY AROUND HIS FAITH .


ABOARD THE STRAIGHT TALK EXPRESS (CNN) %u2014 John McCain, who rarely talks about his Faith Publicly, discussed some of his Religious Beliefs with Reporters Wednesday - including the question of whether he might consider being baptized again.

The presumptive Republican nominee talked with journalists traveling with him from Kentucky to West Virginia about his home congregation, North Phoenix Baptist Church.

"Pastor Dan Yeary has a Message I Enjoy and Appreciate," he said, adding that he and his family have "Grown Close to [Yeary] over the years" and that HE TRIED to ATTEND SERVICES at the church whenever he was home in Arizona.

"The message that Dan Yeary Conveys of Christian Love and redemption is one that I welcome," said McCain.


The Arizona senator, who was raised an Episcopalian, has Attended North Phoenix for Nearly 2 DECADES, but is NOT A MEMBER because HE HAS NOT BEEN ...BAPTIZED into the CHURCH.

[miles1967-2009]

McCain could be a spry 21 year old and I would still not support his foreign and domestic policies.

Regardless of age, McCain does not have the judgment and patience to lead America. He is an ill-informed, myopic, close-minded man who is easily swayed by the bigoted religious right. Check out the result of his BRILLIANT support of the "Surge", not to mention the fatally wrong idea to go to war with Iraq in the first place, and not actually go after the 9/11 terrorists. Check the facts at the below link and comment:

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/18722376/the_myth_of_the_surge

[oscarez]

When a man is past 70 years the probability of SD increases by a large factor. %u201CSudden%u201D death is commonly regarded as a synonym of cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation, which is in turn considered to be a merely arrhythmic phenomenon occurring during apparent wellbeing, and without any precipitating cause other than an extrasystole or a sustained ventricular tachycardia. The fact that the presidency is such a high stress job also increases the probability of SD by a large factor.

McCain''s pick for vice president will have an impact on his winning or losing the presidency.

[mswolfestock]

It''s not his physical health that I''m worried about. For a man of his age, he''s probably in great shape, or else he would not have survived the cancer. I''ve always been turned off by his tired, old, ancient outlook on life. He''s a total dinosaur and he''s way far out of touch with real life in America. He''s narrow-minded and I don''t think there is a cure for that.

[mjvw2]

The nutmegs Myristica are a genus of evergreen trees indigenous to tropical southeast Asia and Australasia. They are important for two spices derived from the fruit, nutmeg and mace.

Nutmeg is the actual seed of the tree, roughly egg-shaped and about 20 mm to 30 mm (1 inch) long and 15 mm to 18 mm (> inch) wide, and weighing between 5 g and 10 g (< ounce and = ounce) dried, while mace is the dried "lacy" reddish covering or arillus of the seed.

Several other commercial products are also produced from the trees, including essential oils, extracted oleoresins, and nutmeg butter (see below).

The outer surface of the nutmeg bruises easily.

[mbcsmith]

McCain is in good health. Where''s Obama''s medical records. Despite his claims, obama continues to SMOKE. Can you imagine him going through withdrawl as he has unconditional talks with his pal from Iran. He''d surrender even quicker, if that''s possible.

[mjvw2]

The nutmegs Myristica are a genus of evergreen trees indigenous to tropical southeast Asia and Australasia. They are important for two spices derived from the fruit, nutmeg and mace.

Nutmeg is the actual seed of the tree, roughly egg-shaped and about 20 mm to 30 mm (1 inch) long and 15 mm to 18 mm (> inch) wide, and weighing between 5 g and 10 g (< ounce and = ounce) dried, while mace is the dried "lacy" reddish covering or arillus of the seed.

Several other commercial products are also produced from the trees, including essential oils, extracted oleoresins, and nutmeg butter (see below).

The outer surface of the nutmeg bruises easily.

[mbcsmith]

McCain is in good health according to his just released records. Where''s Obama''s medical records. Despite his claims, obama continues to SMOKE. Can you imagine him going through withdrawl as he has unconditional talks with his pal from Iran. He''d surrender even quicker, if that''s possible.

[mjvw2]

The nutmegs Myristica are a genus of evergreen trees indigenous to tropical southeast Asia and Australasia. They are important for two spices derived from the fruit, nutmeg and mace.

Nutmeg is the actual seed of the tree, roughly egg-shaped and about 20 mm to 30 mm (1 inch) long and 15 mm to 18 mm (> inch) wide, and weighing between 5 g and 10 g (< ounce and = ounce) dried, while mace is the dried "lacy" reddish covering or arillus of the seed.

Several other commercial products are also produced from the trees, including essential oils, extracted oleoresins, and nutmeg butter (see below).

The outer surface of the nutmeg bruises easily.

[mbcsmith]

McCain is in good health according to his just released records. Where''s Obama''s medical records. Despite his claims, obama continues to SMOKE. Can you imagine him going through withdrawl as he has unconditional talks with his pal from Iran. He''d surrender even quicker, if that''s possible.

[mjvw2]

The nutmegs Myristica are a genus of evergreen trees indigenous to tropical southeast Asia and Australasia. They are important for two spices derived from the fruit, nutmeg and mace.

Nutmeg is the actual seed of the tree, roughly egg-shaped and about 20 mm to 30 mm (1 inch) long and 15 mm to 18 mm (> inch) wide, and weighing between 5 g and 10 g (< ounce and = ounce) dried, while mace is the dried "lacy" reddish covering or arillus of the seed.

Several other commercial products are also produced from the trees, including essential oils, extracted oleoresins, and nutmeg butter (see below).

The outer surface of the nutmeg bruises easily.

[randynason]

MacCain''s physical body aside- what about his mind? I would like to have an un-biased brain surgeon examine his grey matter, just for the record.
-sarcasm-

[randynason]

MacCain''s physical body aside- what about his mind? I would like to have an un-biased brain surgeon examine his grey matter, just for the record.
-sarcasm-

[randynason]

MacCain''s physical body aside- what about his mind? I would like to have an un-biased brain surgeon examine his grey matter, just for the record.
-sarcasm-

[chitown639]

Wow, John McCain looks like he is one million years old!!!! Should he ever put a black hood on, he would look like Darth Sidious, from STAR WARS..... :)

[randynason]

I''m so glad that MacCain has such good healthcare. I wish the rest of America did. Maybe then, we might take a more qualified and sustantive look at what this news items intimates.

[irliberal]

"Three-Time Melanoma Survivor Appears Cancer-Free And To Be In Otherwise Good Health"

Uh-huh. Anyone who sings "bomb bomb bomb Iran" to the tune of the Beach Boys "Barbara Ann" to the PRESS like it''s a JOKE is absolutely, 100% sick.

Vote for McSame for 100 years of WAR!

[realpatriot1]

He''s currently in remission but the melanoma has come back twice before.

I hope he lives another 100 years(so that he can see a stable Iraq in his lifetime), but we''ve all seen how the stresses of the Presidency ages all who sit in the Oval office.

He had better choose a running mate that people have confidence in leading the country, because they probably will be very soon if he wins.

[realpatriot1]

He''s currently in remission but the melanoma has come back twice before.

I hope he lives another 100 years(so that he can see a stable Iraq in his lifetime), but we''ve all seen how the stresses of the Presidency ages all who sit in the Oval office.

He had better choose a running mate that people have confidence in leading the country, because they probably will be very soon if he wins.

[missingamerica]

Would this medical report on McCain reassure you were he to pick a, say, Karl Rove or someone from PNAC as his VP running mate?

[realpatriot1]

He''s currently in remission but the melanoma has come back twice before.

I hope he lives another 100 years(so that he can see a stable Iraq in his lifetime), but we''ve all seen how the stresses of the Presidency ages all who sit in the Oval office.

He had better choose a running mate that people have confidence in leading the country, because they probably will be very soon if he wins.

[remco82]

It''s one of the most closely guarded secrets in the country today, but John McCain actually died three years ago!

[remco82]

It''s one of the most closely guarded secrets in the country today, but John McCain actually died three years ago!

[remco82]

It''s one of the most closely guarded secrets in the country today, but John McCain actually died three years ago!

[remco82]

It''s one of the most closely guarded secrets in the country today, but John McCain actually died three years ago!

[bookout2]

Every "N" in the world is going to say McCain is not
young enough to be president. Almost every white
person says Obama is too young to be president.
Hilliary is the best choice....period.
Clinton for V.P.? I still will not vote for Obama I
don''t care who is on the ticket with him.
The media has turned me into a political racist.
I am a black man. I will vote for John McCain.

[bookout2]

Every "N" in the world is going to say McCain is not
young enough to be president. Almost every white
person says Obama is too young to be president.
Hilliary is the best choice....period.
Clinton for V.P.? I still will not vote for Obama I
don''t care who is on the ticket with him.
The media has turned me into a political racist.
I am a black man. I will vote for John McCain.

[ozonmojo]

What about Obama''s medical records?Just because the guy is younger does not mean he is perfectly healthy.

[ozonmojo]

What about Obama''s medical records?Just because he is younger does not mean he is perfectly healthy.

[smirk5]

Lehrer: Finally for the record, you have not lost your desire to be President of the United States have you?

McCain: Certainly it%u2019s been put in deep cold storage. haha..

Lehrer: You haven%u2019t lost it?

McCain: Well, in 2004, I expect to be campaigning for the reelection of President George W. Bush, and by 2008, I think I might be ready to go down to the old soldiers home and await the cavalry charge there.

2000 John McCain knew that 2008 John McCain would be too old.

[sistatee-2009]

Who examined the records, a geologist?

[fibonacci_gr]

I dont think his age should be a major factor - but the fact that he is an old conservative idiot should. Bigot head.

[haoli25]

Colon polyps, huh? Serves him right for keeping his head up there.

[haoli25]

Colon polyps, huh? Serves him right for keeping his head up there.

[haoli25]

Colon polyps, huh? Serves him right for putting his head up there for so long.

[frb01]

I am not saying it will be John McCain, but at some point, a president will have serious health issues in office, or have something like terminal cancer. Fortunately we have the amendment to deal with that.

[haoli25]

Colon polyps, huh? Serves him right for putting his head up there for so long.

[veteran72]

Pappy McOldbush certainly has a thick file goin'' on here........I wonder what this item on page 873 is:
"Remove and Replace Mouth Actuation Device, and
install new Sawdust in Noggin"......HMMmmmmmm.....

[idnnsg]

Whitewash it anyway you like, but he will not survive 4 years in office (if he''s elected, which he won''t be). Due to his constantly recurring cancers, he probably won''t even make it much past inauguration day!

However, his physical health is NOT the issue. The REAL issue is that he is IN.SANE. He has flip-flopped on so many issues that he can''t even remember what he stands for. The biggest flip-flop, in my mind, is on torture. He claims he was tortured by the Viet Cong for 5 years but never told them any secrets. He claims that none of his buddies revealed any secrets in all that time either. If true, then TORTURE DOES NOT WORK! Given that torture is illegal and immoral and just plain EVIL, it makes sense that he was against it. But now HE SUPPORTS TORTURE! Why?

Either he is IN.SANE, or else he is just pandering to the evil, brainless (fortunately, ever-dwindling) masses of the republican "base" who think torturing people will make them "safe" because they saw it on TV.

Pick either explanation-- your choice. Either way, McCain is NOT someone who should be president of the United States of America.