I've had numerous minor skin cancers removed (basel-cell carcinomas as opposed to the more serious melanomas); it's become very much not-a-big-deal to me and mine. The good thing about skin cancer is that it is immediately detectable, and so usually can be treated (removed) before any serious harm is done.

McCain's melanomas have been public knowledge for some time; it's not the kind of thing anyone, even a politician, would "need" to keep secret.

Rig, could you tell us more about Bill Bradley's similar problem? I'm a great admirer of his, and still have a stack of Bradley-for-President bumberstickers from the primary season eight-plus years ago. I thought that the main/only reason for his failure to get nominated was a perceived lack of charisma; Dollar Bill was no flashier as an orator than he was as a ballplayer. I don't remember any kind of health scare. Could you please enlighten us?