McCain works to answer age and health questions

By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain is the ultimate survivor. Not only did he live through 5-1/2 years as a Vietnam prisoner of war, he also has stared down the deadly cancer melanoma.

As a young Navy pilot, he narrowly escaped death in a fire aboard the U.S. aircraft carrier Forrestal in 1967. Later that year his fighter jet was shot down over Hanoi. He ejected from his plane and broke a leg and two arms and was said to have nearly drowned when he parachuted into a lake.

As a POW, he underwent torture that included fractures in both shoulders, which left him barely able to raise his arms above his shoulders, as well as broken ribs and a badly injured knee.

In the past 15 years, he has been treated four times for melanoma, the most serious case being in 2000 when he underwent surgery on his face for the cancer, leaving him with a bulge and a long scar on the left side of his face. He has been cancer-free since then.

At age 71, McCain would be the oldest person ever to serve a first presidential term. Both Democratic and Republican strategists expect his age to be a campaign issue.

But so far, McCain has kept any doubters at bay with a tough work schedule. He holds lengthy town-hall meetings that include a speech and question-and-answer session, and he holds court with reporters on his bus on the way to events.

McCain impresses his much-younger aides with his stamina, although some of those around him have advised him to cut back on the junk food that is prevalent on all political campaigns.

"I just spent most of the time with him from Labor Day (in September) through early March, when he worked seven-day weeks, 14-hour days, and I'm 10 years younger than him, and I couldn't keep up with him," said senior McCain adviser Charlie Black.

In mid-April, McCain's team plans to release details of his medical history. He underwent a physical earlier this month that included a stress test and he also had a skin exam to see if there was any sign of the melanoma returning.

He was fine on both counts, his campaign said.

HIKES HILLS

Black said when McCain took the treadmill stress test to determine the strength of his heart, he reported afterward that "I had the performance of a 47-year-old man."

McCain is known to take the medication Vytorin to keep his cholesterol low. He also takes vitamins. For exercise, he hikes up and down the hills near his Sedona, Arizona, ranch.

Doctors say there is no reason why McCain would not be able to serve as president.

But they note that certain health risk factors come into play for Americans in their 70s, such as the potential for heart disease and cancer.