[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/03/10/art.westpalm.mccain.gi.jpg caption=" U.S. Sen. John McCain greets supporters during his campaign stop in West Palm Beach, Florida."]
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
John McCain sometimes jokes that he has "more scars than Frankenstein." But these scars are actually a serious reminder of the surgery the Republican nominee for president had in 2000 for melanoma, a potentially deadly form of skin cancer.
When McCain ran for president 8 years ago, he opened up his medical history for the public to see, including 1,500 pages of medical and psychiatric records that the Navy used to track the health of former POWs. But so far in this campaign, McCain hasn't made his full medical records public. The campaign says it expects to do so next month.
One of the doctors who got a look at McCain's medical records back in 1999 wrote a piece in The New York Times about the Arizona senator's history of melanoma. McCain has in fact had 4 melanomas... the most serious one was spotted on his temple in 2000. He had the surgery then to determine whether the melanoma had spread to a lymph node in his neck.
The results suggested no evidence that it spread, and McCain's campaign has said recently that there's been no spread detected in the 3 or 4 check-ups he's had every year since then. They add that his doctors consider him in "very good health."
Nonetheless, McCain could become the oldest person ever elected to a first term as president. And the health of a 72-year-old president is something that has probably crossed the minds of many voters.
Here’s my question to you: How much of an issue is John McCain's history of melanoma, a potentially deadly form of skin cancer?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Christine from California writes:
His melanoma history is the least of his problems. His age, snarky personality, judgment, war-mongering, stubbornness and a joint hip with Bush are of greater concern. His choice of VP is even more critical than it is for the Democrats.
Bill from Syracuse, New York writes:
The key with cancer is always said to be "catch it early.' Given McCain's history with the cancer, he has obviously been very vigilant in getting check-ups to be sure it is not returning, and if it has, he has obviously been catching it early enough. Being that he's beat it four times, and is that much more aware of it, cancer shouldn't be a concern in the minds of the voters.
Ken writes:
Really none. McCain seems in good health and wears out the correspondents traveling with him. McCain is an authentic American hero, but I cannot vote for him to continue the Bush "Holy War" in Iraq!
Carol writes:
McCain’s health is a very big issue and he is trying to hide it. Melanoma is never cured and he should reveal all the tests and their results for last 4 years.
Dan writes:
Melanoma is not an issue as I had one removed in 1989. If not spread below the third layer of skin, it can be totally removed. McCain's problem is not cancer or age, his problem is he's Republican.
Okwy writes:
Melanoma is little matter compared to the desperation in one-half of the blue corner. McCain should hang in there as a safety net should desperation win in Donkeyland.
Brian writes:
In a word, none. Unless, of course, Dick Cheney turns out to be his pick for V.P.