By
The Associated Press
PHOENIX-Preliminary findings show that cancer has not spread to Sen. John McCain's lymph nodes, his doctor said Saturday after more than five hours of surgery to remove skin cancer from his temple and upper arm.
McCain's internist, Dr. John Eckstein, said the surgery to remove the two melanomas, the most serious form of skin cancer, went exactly as expected and without complications.
The removal of the melanoma from his left arm involved a simple excision, Eckstein said. The surgery on the left temple was more extensive and included the removal of lymph nodes from the face and neck and a salivary gland, he said.
"We are pleased to let you know that the preliminary report on the lymph nodes ... was clear without any evidence of melanoma cells," he said. "However it will take several days to fully evaluate the removed surgical tissue."
The former GOP presidential candidate was recovering at the Mayo Clinic Hospital and was expected to remain there for two to three days, Eckstein said. "At this time we are very optimistic and are very pleased for Senator and Mrs. McCain," he said.
The surgery followed earlier tests that found no signs that the cancer spread beyond the two new melanomas. The lymph nodes removed Saturday from around the cancerous lesions were being tested to help determine whether the surgery was the only treatment necessary.
If the cancer had reached one or more of the lymph nodes, treatment is more complicated and less likely to cure the cancer, melanoma experts said. Options include anti-cancer drugs and stimulating the immune system to try to fight the cancer.
The outlook would have been much worse if the cancer had spread to McCain's organs, since that stage of melanoma is extremely difficult to treat, said Dr. John Glaspy, a researcher at UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center.
Doctors found the melanomas after McCain left the Republican National Convention to have biopsies performed at Bethesda Naval Hospital near Washington on Aug. 4. His office announced the results of the those tests on Wednesday.
McCain, who turns 64 on Aug. 29, said he has seen his doctor for checkups every three or four months since he had a lesion removed from his shoulder seven years ago.
Melanoma is usually caused by exposure to the sun. People with fair skin, like McCain, have a higher risk of skin cancer. McCain spent hours in the Arizona sun campaigning for Congress in 1982 and subsequent years.
The news of McCain's cancer came during the Democratic National Convention and just days after he toured Western states with Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the victor in a spirited Republican nomination campaign in which McCain won seven primaries.
McCain has canceled about a dozen campaign events with GOP congressional candidates since learning of the skin cancer diagnosis. Republican leaders had counted on McCain's help to win independent voters and keep the GOP majorities in the House and Senate.
However, McCain said Friday he planned to return to campaigning by Labor Day.
Cindy McCain said her husband was cracking jokes in his room after the surgery.
"All of my prayers have been answered," she said. "My husband is in wonderful shape."
