John McCain Has “Chosen to Discontinue Medical Treatment”

Developing: Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., “has now chosen to discontinue medical treatment,” his family said in a statement. The long-time senator was diagnosed with cancer after doctors at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix found a brain tumor (glioblastoma) during surgery.

Washington, D.C. ­– The McCain family released the following statement today:

“Last summer, Senator John McCain shared with Americans the news our family already knew: he had been diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma, and the prognosis was serious. In the year since, 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. 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.”

Sen. McCain ran for president twice, unsuccessfully. He ran for but lost the Republican nomination in 2000, when George W. Bush went on to defeat Al Gore. He ran again in 2008, capturing the nomination in 2008 only to lose to Barack Obama in the general election.

On Friday, July 14, the 80-year-old senator had a nearly 2-inch blood clot removed from his left eye.