John McCain to begin cancer treatment in Arizona next week

PHOENIX — U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) will begin treatment for brain cancer next week in his home state.

In a statement, McCain’s office said the senator would begin chemotherapy and radiation treatments on Monday. He will return to Washington, D.C. after the August recess.

The senator was diagnosed with cancer last week after a two-inch blood clot was removed from his brain.

McCain was expected to remain in Washington, D.C. for the discussion about the National Defense Authorization Act, but that was delayed after Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) objected to it just before midnight Thursday Arizona time.

McCain criticized Paul’s objection, saying the act was important for America.

“We must uphold our solemn obligation to provide for the common defense and give our men and women in uniform the training, equipment, and resources they need to defend the nation,” he said. “Our brave service members – many now serving in harm’s way – deserve nothing less.”

McCain made worldwide headlines after his pivotal no vote on the so-called skinny repeal of Obamacare sunk the measure for good.

The senator said he did not vote for the repeal because it would not increase competition, lower cost or improve care.

“While the amendment would have repealed some of Obamacare’s most burdensome regulations, it offered no replacement to actually reform our health care system and deliver affordable, quality health care to our citizens,” he said in a statement.

McCain had called for bipartisanship at least twice since returning to the Senate this week and did so again in a Friday statement.

“The vote last (Thursday) night presents the Senate with an opportunity to start fresh,” he said. “It is now time to return to regular order with input from all of our members — Republicans and Democrats — and bring a bill to the floor of the Senate for amendment and debate.”

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