McCain leaves hospital after prostate surgery

Sen. McCain, pictured with wife Cindy, will spend the holiday weekend resting at his Arizona home.

PHOENIX, Arizona (CNN) - Saying he feels "fine," Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, left the hospital two days after minor prostate surgery.

McCain's wife, Cindy, was by his side and smiling as the former presidential candidate left the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix late Friday morning.

"I'm fine," McCain told reporters. "I'm sorry so many of you had to spend so much time here," he added, brushing off the media attention that has been granted to his health in recent days.

Since Wednesday's surgery, McCain had made a number of calls to his staff in Washington asking for news and checking on the Senate's agenda when Congress returns from recess next week.

"He won't stop calling," one aide joked.

In turn, McCain said he received a number of phone calls from his Senate colleagues during his short hospitalization, and some warm wishes from President George W. Bush -- whom he fought bitterly through much of the 2000 presidential primary season.

"The president called," McCain said. "He asked how I was. We had a pleasant conversation."

McCain, who will return to Washington next Tuesday afternoon, said he was prepared for a protracted battle over the federal budget surplus and fiscal 2002 spending levels. And, he added, he was ready to stand with Bush as he faces down congressional Democrats.

"The budget issue and the disappearing surplus will be very big," he said. "The president is committed to holding the line on spending, and I intend to support him."

McCain will spend the long holiday weekend resting at his home in Arizona

Following his Tuesday return to Washington, the senator and his wife plan to attend a White House dinner for Mexican President Vicente Fox on Wednesday night.

During his short hospital stay, surgeons removed part of McCain's enlarged prostate in a process called a transurethral resection.

The problem was uncovered during a quarterly cancer checkup on Aug. 17. That checkup indicated that McCain's body is free of cancer -- the fourth check in a row to show him as being cancer-free.

"There is absolutely no cancer," McCain reiterated Friday. "This was absolutely benign. It was an enlargement that had to be reduced."

McCain's enlarged prostate was pressing against his bladder, causing bleeding and the formation of the bladder stones. Doctors also removed those stones during the procedure.

McCain said doctors had asked him to refrain from any heavy lifting during his recovery -- and, when asked what advice he would give to men with similar maladies, blushed and quipped: "If you have a problem, I hope you have a little more privacy than I had."