Skin Cancer Strikes Senator John McCain

Senator John McCain has been diagnosed with a recurrence of melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer. In today's Early Show, we invited Dr. Darrell Rigel, a dermatologist who specializes in melanoma to talk to us about melanoma.

Dr. Rigel has just written an article on malignant melanoma that is the cover story of the current issue of a Journal of the American Cancer Society. He recently finished serving his term as the president of the American Academy of Dermatology. He is also a professor at New York University Medical School.

Senator McCain's melanoma was diagnosed during a routine examination. Doctors discovered two unrelated spots, one on his left temple and the other on his left arm. The exam occurred at Bethesda Naval Hospital, after McCain returned from the Republican National Convention to Washington on August 2nd.

The medical records that were released during his presidential campaign gave details of the lingering effects of injuries suffered in a Vietnam prisoner of war camp. The records also showed that in December 1993, McCain had a cancerous mole removed from his shoulder that turned out to be melanoma. They also showed that he regularly has suspicious skin lesions or moles removed, often basal cell carcinoma, the least aggressive and most common type of skin cancer.

McCain has regularly been checked for skin cancer since he was first diagnosed with melanoma. Since finding out about the reoccurrence of skin cancer, he has canceled several campaign appearances. He will turn 64 on August 29th. McCain is expected to give a press conference about his medical condition on Friday.
©MMII CBS Worldwide Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed