McCain addresses cancer with Lance Armstrong in Columbus

COLUMBUS - U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lance Armstrong have something in common despite their different professions and their 34 years apart: they're both cancer survivors.

McCain came to the Lance Armstrong Foundation's second annual LIVESTRONG cancer summit at Ohio State University, home to the renowned James Cancer Hospital to deliver a speech about how his health care plan would combat cancer and take questions from the audience about cancer.

McCain said his battle with melanoma skin cancer in 2000 helped him understand people's larger war against cancer - an effort he praised them for making.

"I'm not going to talk to you about why I want to be president of the United States or give a campaign speech. But I can tell you I want to be president because I want to inspire a generation of Americans to serve a cause greater than their self interest," McCain said, calling the audience the "classic example" of those who are serving a cause greater than themselves through their cancer work.

Furthermore, McCain said the Lance Armstrong foundation is helping push the world toward a cure for cancer.

"In the lives of cancer patients, you are adding decades where once there were only years, and years where once there were only months," he said. "Scientists are closing in on the enemy - not fast enough, not fast enough - in all its forms. And one day they are going to save uncounted lives with a cure for cancer."

McCain said as president he would undertake specific health care policies that would aggressively combat cancer. First, McCain would streamline the administration of clinical cancer trials by fostering greater cooperation between the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services and the private sector. Second, the future McCain administration would work to prevent high-risk cancer behaviors, especially smoking. Third, and most importantly, McCain would expand health care coverage to make sure those with pre-existing health conditions, namely cancer, have insurance.

McCain proposed a Guaranteed Access Plan that would help purchase insurance for high-risk people and limit premiums. McCain said his health care plan would unleash the market to expand coverage.

"We need to break down these barriers to competition, creativity, and excellence, with the goal of establishing a national market to make innovative policies and lowest prices available to every person in every state," he said.

Armstrong said the next president must address the cancer epidemic.

"Cancer does not care if you are Republican or Democrat," Armstrong said. "Our job is to give candidates a forum to come and discuss it... come and discuss their experience and discuss their plan."

After his speech McCain took questions from Armstrong and former CNN anchor Paula Zahn. McCain was asked if he would support increasing the federal cigarette tax. McCain said he wouldn't because he did not trust Congress to put the tax revenue into anti-smoking programs.

In 1995 McCain pushed legislation to increase the cigarette tax - efforts he said were defeated as a direct result of tobacco-industry lobbying, which rewarded Congress members for opposing anti-tobacco legislation with campaign contributions.

McCain said the FDA should regulate tobacco and as president he would increase the budget for the National Cancer Institute.