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Kennedy Diagnosed with Malignant Brain Tumor
May 20, 2008 02:28 PM
by
findingDulcinea Staff
Doctors said on Tuesday that Masachusetts Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s recent seizure was caused by a malignant glioma.
30-Second Summary
"Preliminary results from a biopsy of the brain identified the cause of the seizure as a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe," according to a statement from his doctors at the Massachusetts General Hospital.
Senator Kennedy, 76, suffered a seizure over the weekend while at his family's compound in Hyannisport, Mass.
He will probably require radiation and chemotherapy to treat the tumor, according to his doctors.
His outlook will not be apparent for at least a few days, but his prognosis will depend on the tumor's characteristics and the patient himself, says brain cancer survivor Bernadine Healy, M.D., in U.S. News & World Report. "If there is one thing we know about this patient, it's that he's a determined fighter," Healy says.
Malignant gliomas make up more than half of the 18,000 primary malignant brain tumors that are diagnosed every year, CNN reported.
According to the American Brain Tumor Association, gliomas arise out of the brain's supportive tissue; the word "malignant" refers to a tumor with cells that look very different from normal cells.
Kennedy is one of only six people in American history to serve for more than 40 years in the Senate, where he has represented Massachusetts since 1962.
He was slated to speak at Wesleyan University's commencement on May 25.
Senator Kennedy, 76, suffered a seizure over the weekend while at his family's compound in Hyannisport, Mass.
He will probably require radiation and chemotherapy to treat the tumor, according to his doctors.
His outlook will not be apparent for at least a few days, but his prognosis will depend on the tumor's characteristics and the patient himself, says brain cancer survivor Bernadine Healy, M.D., in U.S. News & World Report. "If there is one thing we know about this patient, it's that he's a determined fighter," Healy says.
Malignant gliomas make up more than half of the 18,000 primary malignant brain tumors that are diagnosed every year, CNN reported.
According to the American Brain Tumor Association, gliomas arise out of the brain's supportive tissue; the word "malignant" refers to a tumor with cells that look very different from normal cells.
Kennedy is one of only six people in American history to serve for more than 40 years in the Senate, where he has represented Massachusetts since 1962.
He was slated to speak at Wesleyan University's commencement on May 25.
Headline Link: 'Ted Kennedy has brain tumor'
President George W. Bush is "deeply saddened" by the news, according to White House Spokeswoman Dana Perino.
Source: CNN
Opinion & Analysis: 'Ted Kennedy's Brain Cancer Can Be Fought'
Bernadine Healy, M.D., who like Kennedy suffered a sudden seizure and was diagnosed with malignant glioma, has lived much longer than doctors prognosed. "When I was diagnosed, it looked like I would not see my 12-year-old daughter complete middle school. This past weekend, she graduated from college."
Source: U.S. News & World Report
Key Player: Edward M. Kennedy
Kennedy joined the Senate in 1962 and is its second-longest serving member. He is chairman of the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. A liberal icon, he is the only survivor of the four Kennedy brothers, including former President John F. Kennedy and former Senator Robert Kennedy.
Source: Reuters
Related Topics: Wesleyan commencement
"Senator Kennedy has long been a thoughtful and energetic supporter of higher education in the United States," said Wesleyan President Michael Roth. "In this time of great change at our universities, it is particularly important to hear his perspective."
Source: The Wesleyan Connection
Reference: Brain tumors
The American Brain Tumor Association has available on its Web site resources for patients and for their families.
Source: The American Brain Tumor Association
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