John McCain has spoken out about the moment he learned he had a rare and aggressive from of brain cancer after a routine doctor’s appointment.
The Republican senator from Arizona spoke candidly about the grim diagnosis in an interview with Lesley Stahl from 60 Minutes, for a new episode set to air on Sunday night.
McCain said he was leaving the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix after a routine checkup when he got an urgent call from his doctor.
‘You’ve got to come back,’ he recalls the doctor saying.
John McCain spoke candidly about his brain cancer diagnosis for a new 60 Minutes episode
‘Hey, today is Friday. I’ll just come in on Monday.’ McCain replied.
But the doctor persisted, telling him: ‘No, you have to come now. It’s very serious.’
The doctors had discovered a blood clot above McCain’s left eye. ‘They thought it was serious enough that they had to act immediately,’ he said.
Before the operation to remove the clot, the doctors mentioned glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer that is nearly always fatal.
But McCain said that the doctors hedged, trying to downplay concerns until tests confirmed the diagnosis.
‘Tell it to me straight… I said, “I can take it. Just tell me.” And – and then they were more forthcoming,’ McCain said. Lab tests confirmed the diagnosis days later.
‘They said that the prognosis is very, very serious. Some say 3 percent, some say 14 percent. You know, it’s– it’s a very poor prognosis,’ recalled McCain.
‘So I just said, “I understand. Now we’re going to do what we can, get the best doctors we can find and do the best we can.” And at the same time celebrate with gratitude a life well lived.’
McCain was leaving his doctor’s office after a routine checkup when he got an urgent call
McCain’s wife of 37 years Cindy also spoke out in the new interview, which airs Sunday night
The interview, in which McCain’s wife of 37 years Cindy also speaks, comes a day after the senator was the target of a scorching Twitter attack from President Donald Trump.
In a series of messages posted to Twitter, Trump slammed McCain for his lack of support in nullifying the Affordable Care Act, accusing the former Republican presidential nominee of going back on his word.
‘John McCain never had any intention of voting for this Bill, which his Governor loves. He campaigned on Repeal & Replace. Let Arizona down!’ the President tweeted Saturday morning.
On Thursday, McCain announced that he could not ‘in good conscience’ support the Republican party’s likely last effort to repeal the ACA, a bill sponsored by his close friend Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA).
The full episode of 60 Minutes airs Sunday night on CBS at 7.30pm Eastern and 7pm Pacific.