McCain: Voters should not be concerned about my health
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/07/28/art.mccainlkl.cnn.jpg caption="Catch the full interview on CNN's Larry King Live, 9 p.m. ET."](CNN) - John McCain told CNN’s Larry King Monday that voters should not be concerned about his health, hours after the Arizona senator had a mole-like growth removed from his face.
McCain, who has had four malignant melanomas removed in the past, told reporters earlier in the day his doctor does not believe the latest growth is serious and was removed as a precautionary measure.
In the interview with King, McCain said he now takes precautions from the sun and is not concerned his skin cancer will return.
"Melanoma, if you look at it and be careful it's fine," he said. "I had one serious bout with it and that was frankly due to my own neglect. I let it go and go and go. In fact, I was running for president at the time. I'm not making that mistake again."
Three of McCain's past melanomas — on his left shoulder, left arm and left nasal wall — were limited to the top skin layer and were not invasive. They were removed in 1993, 2000 and 2002, and all were declared Stage 0, of little long-term concern.
But a fourth melanoma proved to be invasive and was removed from his left lower temple in 2000.
McCain also said he gets a routine skin checkup every three months, and his doctor often removes small patches of skin to ensure he remains cancer free.
"We do it quite frequently for those of us that were young and had great exposure to the sun," he said. "As you know my dad was in the Navy and we lived in places where I was at the beach a lot, and I'm paying the price for that."
McCain's comments also came shortly after the Mayo clinic issued a statement on the procedure.
"This morning, as part of his commitment to monitor his dermatological health on a regular basis, Senator John McCain visited the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, for a routine examination. As a precaution, a biopsy was ordered of a very small area on Senator McCain's right cheek. This is a routine minor procedure," said Michael Yardley, Chair of Public Affairs at the Mayo Clinic/
Catch the full interview with McCain tonight on Larry King Live, 9 p.m. ET
41/2 to 8 1/2 years is a long time, a male of your medical history is more likely then not to suffer from a medical incident that will put the welfare of the country in jeopardy.
Why is this news CNN?
Not only should the voters BE CONCERNED about McCain's physical health, they should be very concerned about his mental issues as well. The presidency is the highest office of our land and we do not need go through with electing a person that is just not physically or mentally up to the challenge – especially at this critical time.
It is in our own best interest TO QUESTION his physical ability as well as the root cause of the gaffe after gaffe – too numerous to count. It is just not befitting of a president going into office of a grueling job at this country's most critical time.
WE ARE! WHY SHOULDNT WE?
you have to be fit to lead.
dont need a frail president
Not be concerned with his health? yes we should be concerned with his health, he has had cancer TWICE and God forbid, but he can probably get it again.Mccain is like the old teacher noone liked at school because he/she was always was losing homework and grades.It will just be the same thing to me. Im sorry but I just cant vote for a man that old, with a very rich wife.
guess what mccain? i AM concerned with your health AND your age!
The TRUTH is he is sick and YES he is not healthy, it is beyond criminal for him, his campaign or the GOP to tell us otherwise.
This is what we need, a president w/ anger issues that comes down w/ something and we're left w/ a VP no one elected to run this country.
Imagine if someone like Cheney had even more control
All, Surgent McSurge feeling left out again? Senator Obama goes to the hospital complaining of pain in his hip due to a basketball injury, and McSurge has to go to the hospital too?
Come on CNN, give us some of your up-to-date REAL breaking news, not blow-by-blow updates on Senator Obama and Surgent McSurge's medical visits! Pleeze! (intentionally misspelled)
What about reporting that the gas tax will soon be increased, the same tax McSurge wanted to give a "TAX HOLIDAY" to, due to the damage to our bridges all over the U.S. In order to pay for repairs on our infrastructure, an increase will be necessary. So much for the "gas tax holiday", but, we do need to send McSurge on a holiday for his stupid idea! I'm thinking one-way ticket to Czechoslovakia, so he can talk to "President Putin"!!!
I'm not worrieed about his health, I'm worried about his allegiance to the republican agenda.
well, the good news is that we have Barack Obama who we can elect
it is not McCain's physical health we are concerned about...it his is mental health that is in question. anyone who fails as often as he does must be crazy to think he would make a good CIC. lets see graduated 894 out of 899 from the Navy Academy; FAIL. he crashed 6 planes while in the Military;FAIL. cheated on his first wife, left her, then married the mistress;FAIL. used his second wives money to run for office;FAIL. lingered in the Senate for 26 years; FAIL. refuses to release his Military records;FAIL. John McCain has 59 lobbyist running his campaign F.A.I.L...the one thing this man knows best is failure.
You need to be concerned about his mind. That he can't remember who is who , what he did or didn't vote for and when things happened. My dad had this problem it got so bad that he had to be placed in a home his safety. How safe will you feel with McCain in office.
I'm glad that he's doing well. I'm an Obama supporter but I dont' wish ill will on anyone.
Just read about Gonzalez – guess we really need to vote for McCain so he can pardon all his republican cronies.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Don't worry, John: we won't. It's your age and declining mental health that worries us.
I am very concerned about John McCain's health. His memory is already failing. On Larry King tonight he said that Obama never acknowledged that the surge worked. What and who has he been listening to? Certainly not Obama. Oh, I know!... that brilliant ad he approved that says, Obama was the cause of the increase in gas prices. Yes, I am very concerned about his health.
Ok senator, I'll stay out of the sun. However, I'm more concerned with your mental health, incoherent definition of the surge, your frequent misstatements, and dishonest attack ads. Please think. Really, what would happen if Senator Obama uttered things like Sunni and Shia mixups (3x), Czechoslovakia(3 or 4x), Pakistan/Iraq border, saying that he didn't use the word "timeline" when he did so less than 72 hours prior, completely unable to remember how he voted or his stance on health coverage and birth control, used wounded American soldiers to criticize his opponent, changed drilling position within 19 days then received 1.1 Million from the oil industry since changing his position, etc., etc, etc. Please think this November.
You Are Kidding Right? We Should Not Be Concerned About Your Health? Ok. . . We Will Be Concerned About You Being A Liar, A Panderer, And A Phony Them!
Im More Concerned About Your Lack Of Judgement!
Larry King has McKill on his program, quote "glad we went into Iraq, the World is a better place without Saddam Hussein". McKill did not justify 'over throwing another government'. IRAN is on his list America-WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
You Are Not Mentally Or Physically Fit To Be The President Of The United States Mccain!
But we are concerned with your character and knowledge of issues.
Both which seem to be lacking.
A month ago I never would have said this about John McCain, but his most recent television add contains false information, poor policy choices and straight out lies. I hope that he did not personally sign of on the add, but he probably did and if not John McCain should be ashamed of his campaign people. The add is disgusting.
I disagreed with John McCain previously but still held a lot of respect for him. That respect is all now gone.
He will be 72 years old, should he be elected to the Presidency he will be the oldest to hold office, his memory is failing, he is easily confused on current events, his temper and inability to control same is legendary, his medical history includes cancerous growths and a new growth was removed today and we have every right to weigh this as a component when deciding if we want to risk putting him in office.