Dr. Joseph Zabramski, a neurosurgeon at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, talks about Sen. John McCain's cancer. Thomas Hawthorne/azcentral.com
A cancer expert says Sen. John McCain has an "aggressive" form of brain cancer that will be difficult to treat. Dr. David Reardon at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute says glioblastoma is the most common type of brain cancer in adults. (July 20) AP
Sen. Lindsey Graham says Sen. John McCain is "ready to come back," despite being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. (July 20) AP
Doctors diagnosed Senator John McCain with a glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor that can be difficult to treat. USA TODAY
Sen. John McCain revealed that he has a primary brain tumor, with doctors describing the tumor as a glioblastoma.
Republic reporters explain what glioblastoma is and what it means for Sen. John McCain.
Sen. John McCain diagnosed with brain cancer according to a statement from his office. Wochit
Barrow neurosurgeon talks about McCain's cancer
Doctor: McCain has 'aggressive' cancer
Sen. Graham on McCain: 'He's coming back'
Breaking down John McCain's glioblastoma diagnosis
Sen. John McCain has brain tumor
What is glioblastoma? Unpacking Sen. McCain's cancer diagnosis
Sen. John McCain diagnosed with brain cancer
With January half over, Sen. John McCain has yet to return to work on Capitol Hill.
The veteran Arizona Republican, 81, was diagnosed last summer with a deadly form of brain cancer known as glioblastoma and was hospitalized in Maryland last month for a viral infection and side effects of ongoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
There has not been an official update on McCain's health since Dec. 17, when he returned to Arizona for physical rehabilitation. At that time, his Senate office said he was "grateful for the excellent care he continues to receive" and appreciative of the support from around the nation, and "looks forward to returning to Washington in January.”
Since then, unofficial reports about McCain have dribbled out.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, one of McCain's closest friends, said Dec. 31: "Senator McCain is in rehab. He's coming back in January, (and) we need his voice now more than ever."
On Jan. 2, his daughter, television commentator Meghan McCain, said on ABC's "The View" that her father was doing well as he continued physical therapy at their family cabin near Sedona.
Maintaining an online presence
McCain has not returned to the Senate yet from Arizona and it doesn't appear that he will do so this week.
But he has been continuing to post via Twitter and otherwise make his presence felt. On Tuesday, the Washington Post's website published a guest column from McCain calling on President Donald Trump to stop attacking the media.
"He has threatened to continue his attempt to discredit the free press by bestowing 'fake news awards' upon reporters and news outlets whose coverage he disagrees with," McCain wrote. "Whether Trump knows it or not, these efforts are being closely watched by foreign leaders who are already using his words as cover as they silence and shutter one of the key pillars of democracy."
McCain's junior Republican colleague, Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, is set to deliver a major Senate floor speech on the same topic Wednesday.
Missed votes
Still, McCain's continued absence is potentially problematic for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and other Senate Republicans because they control the 100-member chamber with a narrow 51-member majority.
McCain did not participate in last month's big tax-reform vote. So far this month he has mostly missed votes related to nominations, but this week Congress must pass a new continuing resolution to avoid a partial government shutdown. On Tuesday, senators barely cleared the 60-vote threshold to advance legislation to reauthorize the government's ability to conduct surveillance on foreign intelligence targets by collecting electronic communications such as emails and text messages. A final vote to renew the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, provisions will come this week.
McCain, the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman, in recent months has railed against Congress' reliance on passing short-term continuing resolutions, or CRs, to keep the government running.
Sen. John McCain talks about the need for immigrants with all skill levels and how the issue should be handled as part of an overall package, during an interview with The Arizona Republic on Aug. 3, 2017. Thomas Hawthorne/azcentral.com
Sen. John McCain discusses his most enduring contribution to the Senate during an interview with The Arizona Republic on Aug. 3, 2017. Thomas Hawthorne/azcentral.com
Sen. John McCain says he is in favor of the proposed border wall but that it must be part of a larger plan to protect the border. He spoke with The Arizona Republic on Aug. 3, 2017. Thomas Hawthorne/azcentral.com
Sen. John McCain talks about North Korea, noting the problem isn't President Donald Trump's fault, and about previous policy failures from the U.S. and China, during an interview with The Republic on Aug. 3, 2017. Thomas Hawthorne/azcentral.com
Sen. John McCain mulls whether there is a red line with Donald Trump but says for now he will do everything he can to work with the president. McCain spoke with The Arizona Republic on Aug. 3, 2017. Thomas Hawthorne/azcentral.com
Sen. John McCain talks about his respect for fellow Arizona senator Jeff Flake and discusses Flake's new book during an interview with The Arizona Republic on Aug. 3, 2017. Thomas Hawthorne/azcentral.com
Sen. John McCain discusses the president, the Russian sanctions bill and the need to focus on the major issues, during an interview with The Arizona Republic on Aug. 3, 2017. Thomas Hawthorne/azcentral.com
Sen. John McCain discusses how he's feeling and the treatment he's receiving, during an interview at The Arizona Republic office in Phoenix on Aug. 3, 2017. Hannah Gaber/azcentral.com
Sen. John McCain says he’s going back to work full time in September and answers questions from azcentral.com politics editor Michael Squires about whether there were any symptoms of particular concern before his diagnosis. Hannah Gaber/azcentral.com
Sen. John McCain describes his decision to vote against the “skinny repeal” of the Affordable Care Act and his “no” vote on the Senate floor, during an interview with The Arizona Republic on Aug. 3, 2017. Hannah Gaber/azcentral.com
Sen. John McCain talks about infrastructure projects he sees as critical, and ideas on how to fund them, during an interview with The Arizona Republic on Aug. 3, 2017. Hannah Gaber/azcentral.com
Sen. John McCain talks about his call for bipartisanship and functionality in Congress, and issues that, in his view, will require bipartisan cooperation, during an interview with The Arizona Republic on Aug. 3, 2017. Hannah Gaber/azcentral.com
Sen. John McCain on Trump's immigration policy
Sen. John McCain on his legacy
Sen. John McCain on Trump's border wall
Sen. John McCain on the North Korea situation
Sen. John McCain: Is there a red line with Donald Trump?
Sen. John McCain on Sen. Jeff Flake's book
Sen. John McCain on Trump and Russia
Sen. John McCain on his health and treatment
Sen. John McCain on going back to work full time
Sen. John McCain on voting against the health-care repeal
Sen. John McCain on infrastructure spending
Sen. John McCain on issues that require bipartisanship
“For the past year, I have implored Congress and the White House to negotiate a bipartisan budget agreement, because without one, the military will be funded under a Continuing Resolution at the Budget Control Act levels," McCain said in a Dec. 7 written statement announcing his opposition to a CR. "Now into the third month of our fiscal year, we must once again pass a Continuing Resolution while we await a budget agreement. That is both disappointing and unacceptable."
McCain also missed the Jan. 3 confirmation vote for Arizonan John C. Rood, Trump's pick to be undersecretary of Defense for policy. McCain worked over Rood during his November confirmation hearing before the Armed Services Committee.
"I don't like your answers. Most of us don't like your answers," McCain told Rood, an executive with defense giant Lockheed Martin, at the time.
McCain's vote wouldn't have made a difference, though. Rood was confirmed 81-7.
Nowicki is The Republic's national political reporter. Follow him on Twitter, @dannowicki.
READ MORE:
GOP leaders push another short-term spending bill as shutdown looms
John S. McCain III Terminal coming to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport
Sen. John McCain's legacy project: Develop 45 miles of the Rio Salado
Join the Conversation
To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs