Sen. Ted Kennedy Has Brain Tumor
The statement comes from Lee Schwamm, MD, vice chairman of the neurology department at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Larry Ronan, MD, a primary care doctor at the hospital.
"Over the course of the last several days, we've done a series of tests on Sen. Kennedy to determine the cause of his seizure. He has had 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 [which supplies blood from the heart to the brain] and underwent surgery just six months ago.
"However, preliminary results from a biopsy of the brain identified the cause of the seizure as a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe. The usual course of treatment includes combinations of various forms of radiation and chemotherapy. Decisions regarding the best course of treatment for Sen. Kennedy will be determined after further testing and analysis. Sen. Kennedy will remain at Massachusetts General Hospital for the next couple of days according to routine protocol. He remains in good spirits and full of energy."
Sen. Kennedy's office has not yet released a statement.A glioma is the most common type of brain cancer, that begins in glial cells, which are cells that surround and support nerve cells. Determining the specific type of the cancer, and how far it is along, is crucial to the type of treatment Sen. Kennedy will get, and will have a lot to do with his chances for long-term survival.
Average survival rates can range anywhere from a year for an aggressive glioma to five years for less advanced cancer.
Surgery often is not a viable option, but is sometimes done to help relieve pressure on the brain.
WebMD will continue to update this story as it develops. For more, read the news story here.
Michael W. Smith, MD
Chief Medical Editor, WebMD
Sean Swint
Executive Editor, WebMD
20 Comments:
What kind of treatment will Sen Kennedy receive in glorious Cuba?
I would like to relay my best wishes to improve to Senator Kennedy. Medical science is so advanced they have a treatment for about anything, I will pray for Senator Kennedy.
Malignant brain tumors, at this time, are usually a death sentence. The only thing that you can hope for is a decent quality of life and maybe 2 years. Some people are lucky enough to make it past the 2 years - but not most. There is no cure. My husband has glioblastoma - maybe someone like Ted Kennedy getting this horrible disease will help to speed new treatments along - including stem cell research.
Dawn
God's healing,blessings & love,thru his divine mercy.dear Sen.Kennedy.Peace be with you! teresa
Just wondering why nobody has mentioned the gamma knife as a possible treatment option...Perhaps it is not indicated in this type of cancer and WBR (wide brain radiation) is more commonly used???
All of my prayers are with him and his family at this most difficult time. I'm sure after his oldest brother, John, Bobby, John Jr. and Jackie O. he has shouldered a lot of burdens in order that all of the kids have a family member to go to in their time of need. We are all bound by a common thread and that is humanity and in the darkness, we shall see the light!
Lucky for him he can stay in the hospital because he has insurance. My husband died 7 months ago and served in Vietnam and it leaves me
60 with no insurance as it is to expensive. If I get cancer I would have to live with it!
I feel very sorry for Senator Ted Kennedy. At the same time it makes me feel very proud, that I am a Canadian. No one here, rich or poor will go without proper healthcare. I am in the field of Community Health, all people are equal!
Barbara
I greatly admire Senator Kennedy for his public work and all he has done to try to make our country, the United States a better place to live. Senator Kennedy is a man who was lucky enough to be born to a wealthy family yet he has chosen to go to work everyday to fight for our rights as Americans and do his best to help look after our country. Instead of retiring when he could have long ago, this man still goes to work everyday to contribute to our country. Senator Kennedy and his brother, President John Kennedy have always been on my hero list. My dad is from Plymouth, Massachusetts and I have family in Fall River (Another reason I appreciate you. I live in Florida.) Senator Kennedy, I hope you or your family read this as I want to thank you for all your contributions to our country. We need you, so fight as you always do! My prayers are with you and your family. God bless you!
Cynthia
I'm also hoping that they have looked into gamma knife as an option for Mr. Kennedy. He just like anyone else deserves the best treatment available.
Mr. Kennedy, I wish you well. I pray that you beat the odds and prove the others wrong that have posted here. I pray that you have a full and complete recovery. Dear God, Hear my prayers. I will pray for you every day.
With All My Prayers and Blessings,
Susan Mauriello
He needs to go to Todd Bentleys Florida healing to help him. They been seeing a lot of healing in florida
I hope he repents before he goes, but I'm afraid it's too late to save the nation.
Just two weeks ago, Senator Kennedy was calling for increased funding for cancer research. It is sad and ironic that he is a victim of such an illness, someone who has fought so hard for universal healthcare coverage for all.
So sad to hear of anyone getting cancer. I pray that Senator Kennedy doesn't suffer long. We have the technology to fix small problems, lets use them on getting rid of CANCER.
I pray that Senator Kennedy will get out of the hospital soon. I also would like to express my feelings towards cancer,it seems like everyone is getting this darn thing. Being overweight causes cancer, what else?
Sen T. Kennedy. The odds may be aganist him but anything is possible. Stay strong and I wish you a positive outcome.
Vann.
CA
I wouldn't wish such an illness on anyone; even a Kennedy. Maybe he has time to reflect on what he's done to take down our great country; maybe not. In any case, this is called karma. If any good comes of this, maybe the government will realize what a joke universal health care would be here in the USA!
I hope and pray for the best possible outcome for Senator Kennedy. Cancer is not a punishment. It can happen to anyone. I'm shocked and saddened by some of the mean and hostile comments posted in this blog. I thought we had come farther than that in this country. I see we have more work to do.
All the best to you and your family. Sen. Kennedy.
I pray daily for Senator Kennedy and his family.
As a cancer survivor, I understand the fear of the unknown. Hold on to your faith with all your heart. Your family and faith will be with no matter what.
Thank you for the grace and courage
you always show in times of great sorrow. Much love and many prayers
I was so sorry to hear about Senator Kennedy's health. I hope that comfort can be his each day and that his friends and family can bring "light" to his days.
As a side: I have a neighbor here in Arizona that this state will not help. I accidentally met her because my son walks home with her son following school. She has tumors in her brain that need to be removed and nobody here will do anything for her because she has no insurance. Her Access insurance dropped her because the costs were becoming too high. She has been told that if the tumors are not removed she will die. What can we do? Can you refer us to "anyone" that may help? She has resorted to driving to Mexico to get her medications at this point. I feel helpless and my faith in the human condition is diminished because of this knowledge. She has three children that are going to lose their mother if something is not done. She only gets $400 per month and time is running out.
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