Graham on McCain cancer diagnosis: ‘This disease has never had a more worthy opponent’

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) responded on Wednesday to the news that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has been diagnosed with brain cancer, saying the disease “never had a more worthy opponent.”

“God knows how this ends, not me,” Graham told reporters after speaking with McCain. “But what I do know is this disease has never had a more worthy opponent.”

Lindsey Graham responds to news of John McCain’s brain cancer diagnosis.

“This disease has never had a more worthy opponent.” pic.twitter.com/4S6cssfJCv

— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) July 20, 2017

McCain and Graham share a close friendship and are widely known as a duo in Washington. They frequently take up similar initiatives and are both known for their direct mannerisms on Capitol Hill.

Graham said Wednesday night that he and McCain only spoke briefly about the Arizona Republican’s diagnosis before chatting instead about healthcare and the National Defense Authorization Act. 

“Literally, it went five minutes until we turned away from what I think most people have a hard time absorbing and focused on what he loves the best,” Graham said.

McCain, 80, was diagnosed with brain cancer after undergoing a minor procedure on Friday to remove a blood clot from above his left eye.

McCain and his family are currently considering treatment with his doctors, according to a statement released by the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix Wednesday.