McCain deemed in good health by doctors

By Steve Holland and Tim Gaynor

FOUNTAIN HILLS, Arizona (Reuters) - Republican John McCain was deemed by his doctors on Friday to be in sufficient good health to serve as president even as they reported a long history of skin cancer, colon polyps, kidney stones and dizziness.

The Arizona senator, who turns 72 in August and would be the oldest elected first-term president, "enjoys excellent health and displays extraordinary energy," said his physician Dr. John Eckstein.

"I can find no medical reason or problems that would preclude Senator McCain from fulfilling all the duties and obligations of president of the United States," he said in a statement.

McCain's health records were made available by the Mayo Clinic of nearby Scottsdale to a small group of reporters. The McCain campaign organized the release to try put to rest lingering questions about his health and ability to handle the rigors of the presidency.

An executive summary of McCain's records said he has no heart problems and was able to exercise at a high level in a treadmill stress test. He smoked two packs of cigarettes a day for 25 years until stopping in 1980.

The records showed that McCain has chronic shoulder pain and moderate pain of the right knee from injuries he received when as he was shot down as Navy pilot and spent 5 1/2 years in a Vietnam prisoner of war camp.

Also, he has had some common health problems including benign colon polyps that were removed and kidney stones. As recently as March 29, McCain had a total of six polyps removed during a colonoscopy.

Major surgery on his face in 2000 removed a melanoma, a skin cancer that can be deadly. The surgery left a noticeable scar and bulge down the left side of his face.