Veteran US senator and war hero John McCain -- a towering figure in American politics for decades -- has stopped treatment for brain cancer, his family announced today, one year after the Republican went public with his diagnosis.
The announcement signals the beginning of the end of a tough battle with an aggressive form of cancer -- and of a storied life that took the Naval Academy graduate from a Hanoi prison to the doorstep of the White House.
"The progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict," the 81-year-old senator's loved ones said in a statement.
"With his usual strength of will, he has now chosen to discontinue medical treatment."
"No man this century better exemplifies honor, patriotism, service, sacrifice, and country first than Senator John McCain," said fellow Republican Mitt Romney. "His heroism inspires, his life shapes our character. I am blessed and humbled by our friendship."
Following Trump's recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, McCain caustically described the US leader's behavior as "one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory."
That has earned him the ire of Trump, who regularly blames McCain for his failure to reform Obama-era health care laws and refused to say his name when signing the eponymous "John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act."
"Thank you for all your continued support and prayers. We could not have made it this far without you - you've given us strength to carry on."
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he was "very sad to hear this morning's update from the family of our dear friend."
"Senator John McCain is a warrior in every sense of the word," said congressman Joe Kennedy III -- a scion of the American political dynasty. 'To an inspiring man and a loving family, our thoughts are with you."
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