McCain Declares Himself Cancer-Free

Republican presidential nominee John McCain has declared that he is cancer free. He was obviously reacting to a New York Times article, which raised concerns that he could suffer a recurrence of the skin cancer that he battled with almost eight years ago.

The senior Arizona senator underwent a medical examination, which also included a cancer screening procedure, earlier the same day that he issued the declaration. He promised to make the test results public before the end of April.

McCain indicated that the screening was part of a routine medical check-up. However, as the Republican candidate for president, McCain's medical profile continues to considerable interest. As reported in the recent New York Times article, McCain had undergone a surgical procedure to remove a cancerous growth on his left temple.

McCain sought to allay fears regarding a recurrence by saying that he was in good health. "Everything's fine," he said while addressing a news conference. He added, "Like most Americans, I go see my doctor fairly frequently." When pointedly asked whether he was free of the cancer, he responded in the affirmative.

Fears regarding his health notwithstanding, McCain has a busy time ahead of him. He has started on a fundraising tour that will see him involved in some hectic traveling as he visits Illinois, Missouri, New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. Later, he will be flying to Europe, as also the Middle East, including Iraq. McCain disclosed the details of his tour despite the security issues involved. "I don't mind telling you, the Pentagon goes ballistic. They go ballistic," he told reporters.

Once he is back, there are plans of a major foreign policy address. This will be followed by a tour of some significant places that figure in his personal biography. These will include McCain Field in Mississippi - a Navy facility named after his grandfather, Jacksonville, Florida, where McCain commanded the largest flight squadron in the Navy, Alexandria, Virginia, where he schooled, and the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where he trained.