McCain ‘enjoys excellent health’

By Anna Boyd
15:37, May 26th 2008
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McCain ‘enjoys excellent health’

After months of delay, Republican John McCain’s medical records were released on Friday answering a series of concerns expressed about his age and his ability to lead the United States.

Besides the records being released, a panel of four doctors answered questions related to the senator’s health during a 45-minute news conference at the CopperWyind Resort near the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale.

According to the resume of the 1,173 of medical documents spanning 2000 to 2008, McCain, who will turn 72 in August, appears generally in good condition. However, his history puts him at increased risk for future skin cancer, so he sees his dermatologist at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona every three to four months. This year, he had a minor skin cancer removed from his lower leg.

The senator was diagnosed with invasive melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, on his left temple in 2000. He has a scar and swelling on his left cheek as a result of the operation to remove the cancer that year. In his life, McCain has had four melanomas.

Dr. John D. Eckstein, McCain’s internist at the Mayo Clinic told reporters that the senator is in “excellent health” and “displays extraordinary energy.” He further added that “while it is important to predict any person’s future health today, I can find no medical reason or problems that would preclude Senator McCain from fulfilling all the duties and obligations of president of the United States,” the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

The doctors also said McCain has occasional momentary episodes of dizziness when he suddenly stands up, high cholesterol, blood in his urine from an enlarged prostate and kidney stones. Additionally, McCain had his most recent colonoscopy in April, when six benign polyps were removed.

He also suffers from degenerative arthritis in his joints from broken arms, legs and shoulders suffered when his plane crashed in Vietnam.

His medical records revealed that he takes simvastin to control his cholesterol, hydrochlorothiazide for kidney stone prevention, aspirin for blood clot prevention, Zyrtec for nasal allergies and a multiple vitamin tablet.

McCain’s Democratic opponents, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, 60, and Illinois Se. Barack Obama, 46, have not released their medical records.

If elected, McCain would be the oldest first-term president. However, McCain’s age is not a problem for voters, according to recent national polls. Now that the medical records are also in the open and do not reveal worrisome health conditions, he is more than ready to compete.



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