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WASHINGTON โ John McCain, the six-term Arizona senator and 2008 Republican presidential nominee, has chosen to discontinue medical treatment for his brain cancer, his family said Friday.
The senator, who would be 82 next week, has been away from the Capitol since December.
The son and grandson of Navy admirals, McCain is a former Navy pilot and was held as a prisoner of war in Vietnam for more than five years. He was elected to Congress in the early 1980s and elected to the Senate in 1986, replacing Barry Goldwater who retired. McCain gained a reputation as a lawmaker who was willing to stick to his convictions rather than go along with party leaders. It is a streak that draws a mix of respect and ire.
He has been a frequent target of criticism from President Donald Trump, especially for his vote against a Republican replacement for โObamacare,โ the health care law approved under President Barack Obama.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Twitter that he was โvery sad to hear this morningโs updateโ from McCainโs family.
โWe are so fortunate to call him our friend and colleague. John, Cindy, and the entire McCain family are in our prayers at this incredibly difficult hour,โ McConnell said.
Arizona Governor: โAn American Heroโ
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey called McCain โan American heroโ who always put his country before himself.

McCainโs wife, Cindy, tweeted: โI love my husband with all of my heart. God bless everyone who has cared for my husband along this journey.โ
McCain underwent surgery in July 2017 to remove a blood clot in his brain after being diagnosed with an aggressive tumor called a glioblastoma. Itโs the same type of tumor that killed Sen. Edward M. Kennedy at age 77 in 2009.
Cast Vote Against GOP Healthcare Bill
McCain rebounded quickly, however, returning to Washington and entering the Senate in late July to a standing ovation from his colleagues. In a dramatic turn, he later cast a deciding vote against the Republican healthcare bill, earning the wrath of Trump, who frequently cites McCainโs vote at campaign events.
McCainโs condition worsened last fall and he has been in Arizona since December. A source close to McCain who asked not to be identified said Friday the senator is at his Arizona ranch with his family.
McCain is a long-term survivor of melanoma, a deadly skin cancer. Doctors classified his brain cancer as a โprimary tumor,โ meaning itโs not related to his former malignancies.
Two-Time Presidential Candidate
McCain ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, then won it in 2008 before losing the general election to Obama.
He returned to the Senate, determined not to be defined by a failed presidential campaign in which his reputation as a maverick had faded.
When Republicans took control of the Senate in 2015, McCain, the scion in a decorated military family, embraced his new influence as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, pushing for aggressive U.S. military intervention overseas and eager to contribute to โdefeating the forces of radical Islam that want to destroy America.โ
Asked how he wanted to be remembered, McCain said simply: โThat I made a major contribution to the defense of the nation.โ
Former Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman, a close friend, said Friday that โbecoming John McCainโs friend has been one of the great blessings of my life. Today I am praying for him and his family.โ
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