McCain has routine skin biopsy

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., July 29 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a melanoma cancer survivor, had a spot of skin removed from his face during a routine checkup, aides said.

McCain, the presumptive Republican Party presidential candidate, has had a history of dangerous melanomas.

During a campaign stop in Bakersfield, Calif., McCain denied he had any serious problems when he discussed the procedure, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

"As I do every three months, I visited my dermatologist this morning (Monday) and she said I was doing fine," McCain said. "She took a small little nick from my cheek, as she does regularly, and that will be biopsied just to make sure everything is fine."

McCain's campaign distributed a statement from Michael Yardley, head of public affairs for the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., who said "a biopsy was ordered of a very small area on Senator McCain's right cheek. This is a routine minor procedure."

McCain has had four malignant melanomas surgically removed since 1993.