‘I’m feeling fine’: Sen. John McCain is upbeat after his first week of radiation treatment.

Sen. John McCain proclaimed himself in good spirits and said he’s feeling in good health during his first week of radiation treatment for an aggressive form of brain cancer.

The remarks came Thursday during a Facebook Live broadcast from The Arizona Republic.

“Fine, I’m feeling fine,” McCain said. The senior senator from Arizona said he has felt no ill effects from the targeted radiation treatments. “I have not felt anything except feeling good.”

McCain said his doctors told him that exercise and good food would be important to his recovery, as well as staying active.

McCain said he expected to be back on the Senate floor in September, against his physician’s wishes.

“My doctor recommended I not go back to Washington,” McCain said. “I thought about it (and) there’s men and women putting their lives on the line every hour, and I can’t go back to Washington?”

A viewer asked McCain about his deciding no vote on the so-called “skinny repeal” of the Affordable Care Act.

“It wasn’t an easy call,” McCain said, “but I could see it wasn’t going to address the challenges that Arizona faces.”

McCain said he’s read speculation that his dramatic vote was orchestrated, but he said that was not the case.

McCain was not on his floor when his name was called during the vote. McCain walked onto the Senate floor moments later, held his hand up to get the clerk’s attention, then, when recognized, quickly turned his open hand into a thumbsdown gesture while saying, “no.”

McCain said that Vice President Mike Pence had called him into his Senate office just off the floor so Pence could try to sway his vote. McCain said Pence also told him he wanted him to speak with President Donald Trump.

“Meanwhile the roll call is going on,” McCain said. “To make a long story short, I came out — I had made up my mind a long time ago — and decided no.”

In an earlier interview with the Editorial Board of The Republic, McCain described that phone call with Trump as “very pleasant, as you might expect.”

McCain also said his no vote was not a revenge vote against Trump for his disparaging comments about McCain’s time as a war prisoner, comments Trump made as a candidate two years ago.

A Facebook viewer asked whether McCain had a “red line” with President Trump. McCain said he did not.

“I will do everything in my power to work with this president,” the senator said. “He’s our president, unlike me.”

It was the second reference McCain had made to his failed candidacies for the nation’s highest office. As political editor Michael Squires introduced McCain to Facebook Live viewers, he said he was a former presidential candidate. “Thanks for mentioning that,” McCain said dryly.

Another Facebook Live viewer asked about how the nation’s infrastructure could be funded.

McCain suggested making a deal with people who have money parked overseas to avoid high taxes. “You bring that money back and we’ll tax you at 20 percent,” he said. “If you bring it back, that tax money will go to building infrastructure throughout this country.”

McCain said Arizona’s growth has made the state in dire need of infrastructure. “Anybody who drives north on a Friday knows how badly we need more infrastructure,” he said.

Another Facebook Live viewer asked about the border wall.

“Walls are not the answer, although walls are part of the answer,” McCain said.

He said any wall would face challenges as it cuts across reservations and privately owned land.

“Yes, it sounds good and I’m for it,” he said, “but I believe it’s got to be part of an overall equation rather than: we built a wall and we’ve found the answer.”

McCain had earlier told the newspaper’s Editorial Board that he was talking with Sen. Chuck Schumer, the minority leader of the Senate, about reviving comprehensive immigration reform.

“I want to work to reintroduce the same package that passed through the United States Senate and was never taken up in the house,” he said.

Another Facebook Live commenter asked if McCain’s cancer diagnosis and made him ponder his legacy.

McCain said he thought the most important work was in defense funding while serving as chairman of the Armed Services Committee.

But he seemed in no mood to address retirement.

As the Facebook Live closed, McCain looked into the camera and said: “My dear friends, I’m coming back.”