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
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I am not concerned about your health. I am only concern about your negative campaigning.
He is the risky vote.. not Obama.
Sen. MCcain sir, it's your mental health that scares me, your too forgetful ,and just plain crazy. Obama 08 a brand we can trust 08-12.
The only health of his I am concerned about is his mental health....the man is not fit for the job.
And don't be concerned about the man behind the curtain!
His physical health may be fine. However his bitterness and hot temper sometimes make me question his mental health. I wonder what care he has recieved for Post Traumatic Health Disorder after Vietnam?
Dear Mr. McCain:
Do not worry. I am completely unconcerned with your health. In fact, I don't care about it at ALL...
Obama '08!!!
– Sammy
Boston, MA
How nice to know that we shouldn't be worried about his health; blieve me... I'm not – I'm concerned with his MENTAL health. At my expense, he has the best medical coverage in the world. I'm sure it covers psychiatric services as well.
I'm not.
obama 08 feel the power
Sorry Senator McCain, I am now concerned and I expect you to have the good judgement to understand why I would be. Our country is at a point where we need a leader that this very dynamic and most of all healthy. I cannot bring myself to even think of a distraction like my president's health.
Besides, I am an employee and I know that I function well when an healthy, how can you expect me not to be concerned?
I can't wait to see the death wishes that pour out of the Obamabots on this one.
Come on guys, show your stupidity! Ready, set......
OMG ! ! ! A mole ! ! ! Stop the presses and get a new headline ! ! !
This is why it never pays to "tear down" others. When it was reported that Senator Obama went to the hospital for hip pain due to a basketball injury, the Obama haters filled this blog with horrible things to say about the Senator. Now, today, the shoe is on the other foot and judging from the other story CNN reported about Mccain's visit to the hospital, McCain supporters are pratcially begging folks not to say anything derogatory about McCain's mole he had removed. The majority of Senator Obama's supporters wisih McCain well, as I do. However, we also WISH that all of you Obama haters would realize that unlike many of you, we don't hate McCain, we just don't want him for President of the United States!
We won't be concerned about your health. We are concerned about your positions on several issues:
campaign finance
offshore drilling
tax cut for the wealthy
abortion (Roe v. Wade)
your version of "clean" campaign (especially after your "527" like commercial where senator Obama was shown to play basketball with troops in Iraq and you stated that senator Obama rather goes to gym than visiting wounded soldiers)
affirmative action
and so on
I think there are several other positions that Mr. McCain needs to clarify. If Mr. McCain calls senator Obama a "flip-flopper," I believe Mr. McCain should take a look at himself in the mirror.
Is he kidding? Americans shouldn't be concerned about his health after he has had 4 bouts with skin Cancer and is 72 years old?
If I were a relative of John McCain, I would be worried about the recurring outbreaks of melanoma.
As a citizen of the United States, why shouldn't I be worried about the health of a presidential candidate?!?
Yes, John, we trust you. You've flip-flopped on every issue, broke campaign law, and thrown your friends under the bus to advance your cause. So of course we should believe that there is nothing wrong with you health and we should just vote for you so that you can fulfill your life dream.
Except that you are over 5,000 years old. We need someone we can rely on and not worry with every check-up and spot removal if he can continue.
Well Mr McCain i think people should be concerned about your health. Four melanomas is very serious. One of my oldest friends was told that they got all of his skin cancer it later came back in his brain and he was no longer with us in 8 months. It is very very dangerous. Time to retire.
yes we should be concerned.you eliminated iran by moving the iraqi border to pakistan.
Oh really, not buying it.
Obama 08
(CNN) — John McCain told CNN’s Larry King Monday that voters should not be concerned about his health
It'Not your Health Senator ......It's Your Attitude!!
I agree with McSurge. And while I hope it's nothing too bad. It's your lack of knowledge, judgment and irrelevant experience that I am more concern about. I don't believe you have the ability to lead the country at 72 in the right direction.
McWar is way too old for the job of president.