What I know about my future and McCain’s

Likely you’ve seen the news. The medical information released about Sen. John McCain, R- Ariz., first described a non- specific eye problem, then a non- specific surgery and hospitalization. And now comes the acknowledgment that doctors found a tumor in his head. And that it is glioblastoma — GBM.

That’s not good news. As I discovered after my surgery seven months ago, the median survival time after diagnosis is about 15 months. I’m no doctor, but I know three relevant factors about McCain’s case: Older patients tend to wind up on the shorter side of that median. But patients whose mental state is strong can shift to the longer side. And even many patients whose path to the Egress from GBM is close to the median enjoy a pretty good quality of life until near the end. If McCain wants, it’s possible he’ll be back in the Senate for a while.

I’ve never been a political ally of McCain. Never met him, either. And I’ve ridiculed some of his positions and decisions. ( Um, dude, about choosing Sarah Palin for your running mate in 2008 — a vice presidential candidate should be qualified to be president.) But I wish him well on this.

Some of my Facebook friends with a tie to the illness posted unkind political comments. But many offered prayers, best wishes and hope for solutions. Some noted that former vice president Joe Biden’s son Beau and Sen. Ted Kennedy died of this brain cancer. Maybe famous cases can help advance treatments.

My professional and even personal ambitions are far smaller than McCain ever had. He was a military hero. And a civil and respectable politician, mostly. In embroiled Washington, he has brought a note of sanity to governance since last November.

What I know that he will know, however, is that he’s likely to have limits now that he did not have a year ago. And the odds that limits could emerge sooner rather than later? I recently faced that possibility. I had my very first “focal seizure” less than two hours before an appointment with my neuro- oncologist. Suddenly, I could not get words out of my mouth. Comprehension was fine. Physical coordination was fine. No pain. But nothing but garble.

Now I’m on a medication that fights seizures. Next month, I’ll have another MRI to see whether there’s evidence of the return of cancer that hasn’t shown up yet.

This illness is associated with many symptoms that can worsen over time. I suspect McCain’s docs are letting him and his family know they need to stay alert.

That does not mean he should have to limit himself based on the worst possible effects, unless it’s his choice. And McCain has more experience than most humans at maintaining a morally highgrounded set of ambitions in the face of serious physical obstacles.

I hope his journey is public enough that it helps many people understand this awful illness. And I hope he sets an example that helps those of us on a similar trip to our Egress appreciate how to find our own best paths.