READ: Trump, Obama & Other Notables React to John McCain’s Brain Cancer Diagnosis

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John McCain speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol February 5, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Getty)

Longtime senator and 2008 GOP presidential nominee John McCain has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.

The Mayo Clinic in Phoenix released a statement Wednesday saying that doctors discovered and removed a brain tumor known as a “glioblastoma” when McCain, 80, went in for a routine exam over the weekend. Doctors first found a blood clot that required surgery, and it turned out to be cancerous. The surgery lasted about three to four hours and post-surgery brain scans show that the diseased tissue had been “completely removed,” CNN reported.

“The Senator and his family are reviewing further treatment options with his Mayo Clinic care team,” the statement read. “Treatment options may include a combination of chemotherapy and radiation.”

According to the American Brain Tumor Association, the type of cancer McCain has forms in the tissue of the brain and spinal cord. It’s the same type former Senator Ted Kennedy had. Kennedy died from the disease August 25, 2009 at the age of 77.

McCain’s office also released a statement saying the senator, who’s been in office since 1987, has been blown away by the support he’s gotten from others since he was diagnosed.

“Senator McCain appreciated the outpouring of support he has received over the last few days,” it says. “He is in good spirits as he continues to recover at home with his family in Arizona.”

Read the full statement below:

McCain is a veteran of the United States Navy and was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. He launched a campaign for president in 2000, but eventually withdrew and endorsed George W. Bush.

McCain tried to run for president again in 2008 and became the Republican nominee. He lose the general election to Barack Obama.

Here are some of the statements issued by notable people:


Donald Trump


Barack Obama


Daughter Meghan McCain


Hillary Clinton

Senator Marco Rubio


Ohio Governor John Kasich


Senator Chris Murphy


New York Governor Andrew Cuomo


Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards


Senator Bob Casey


The Arizona Cardinals


Senator Tim Kaine


Senator Chuck Grassley


The House Democrats