Kennedy Tumor
Ted K has a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe. Unclear as yet what that means. Best to him and his family. Boston Herald:
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the nation’s liberal lion who was rushed to the hospital this weekend after suffering a seizure, has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, his doctors said today.
Dr. Lee Schwamm, vice chairman of the neurology department at Massachusetts General Hospital and Dr. Larry Ronan, the senior senator’s primary care physician, said in a statement that they performed a series of tests on the 76-year-old Democrat over the past several days to determine the cause of his seizure.
Kennedy was Medflighted to MGH Saturday after suffering a seizure at his Hyannisport home.
Preliminary results from a biopsy of Kennedy’s brain identified the cause of the seizure as a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe, the doctors said.
“The usual course of treatment includes combinations of various forms of radiation and chemotherapy,” the statement said. “Decisions regarding the best course of treatment for Sen. Kennedy will be determined after further testing and analysis.”
The doctors said Kennedy has suffered no further seizures, remains in good overall condition and is up and walking around the hospital.
“Some of the tests we had performed were inconclusive, particularly in light of the fact that the senator had severe narrowing of the left carotid artery and underwent surgery just 6 months ago,” the statement said.
Malignant gliomas are a type of brain cancer diagnosed in about 9,000 Americans a year - and the most common type among adults. It’s a starting diagnosis: How well patients fare depends on what specific tumor type is determined by further testing.
Average survival can range from less than a year for very advanced and aggressive types - such as glioblastomas - to about five years for different types that are slower growing.
Surgery can be an option for some types, especially to reduce symptoms as a tumor enlarges and puts pressure on the rest of the brain. Many gliomas infiltrate normal brain tissue instead of forming a solid mass, making it hard to remove much of the tumor.
Kennedy will remain at MGH for the next few days according to routine protocol. “He remains in good spirits and full of energy,” the doctors said in their statement.
Topics: pols
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 2:37 pm on Tuesday, May 20, 2008
2 Responses to “Kennedy Tumor”
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May 20th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
You know, I have never agreed with the guy, but don’t politicize the personal. I wish his family God’s comfort and him a speedy recovery so that he can return to the battlefield of ideas (and I hope he is around long enough to have a good one!)
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:36 am
This is a devastating diagnosis. Prayers for Kennedy and his family.
Angela