Senator John McCain has chosen to discontinue medical treatment after being diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma last summer, according to the McCain family.
"John has surpassed expectations for his survival. But the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict. With his usual strength of will, he has now chosen to discontinue medical treatment," the family said in a statement on Friday.
My family is deeply appreciative of all the love and generosity you have shown us during this past year. Thank you for all your continued support and prayers. We could not have made it this far without you - you've given us strength to carry on. pic.twitter.com/KuAQSASoa7
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) August 24, 2018
The statement continued: "Our family is immensely grateful for the support and kindness of all his caregivers over the last year, and for the continuing outpouring of concern and affection from John’s many friends and associates, and the many thousands of people who are keeping him in their prayers. God bless and thank you all."
I love my husband with all of my heart. God bless everyone who has cared for my husband along this journey. pic.twitter.com/v27sEbboii
— Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) August 24, 2018
McCain has received treatment at Mayo Clinic and had surgery after his diagnosis. Former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and retired Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman are among the friends who have visited him after his treatments.
“It’s a very difficult decision, it’s probably the most difficult because it forces you to face the question is it better to have more life with potentially more pain and going through therapies, versus less life with maybe a better quality of life in that shorter window,” said Dr. Michael Lawton, President of Barrow Neurological Institute.
McCain also released a memoir, The Restless Wave, in May. The book talks politics, and his time in the military, but also what time he may or may not have left as he continues to fight brain cancer.
"Before I leave, I'd like to see our politics begin to return to the purposes and practices that distinguish our history from the history of other nations," McCain read. "I'd like to see us recover our sense that we are more alike than different."
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Governor Doug Ducey shared the following statement, sending prayers to the McCain family:
.@SenJohnMcCain is an American hero. Angela and I send our prayers to Senator McCain, Cindy and the entire McCain family. Read my statement: pic.twitter.com/oxzKPKXucq
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) August 24, 2018
McCain's wife Cindy also acknowledged the decision on Friday morning, tweeting: "I love my husband with all of my heart. God bless everyone who has cared for my husband along this journey."
Meghan also tweeted: "My family is deeply appreciative of all the love and generosity you have shown us during this past year. Thank you for all your continued support and prayers. We could not have made it this far without you - you've given us strength to carry on."
