US Sen. Kennedy has malignant brain tumor

Edward Kennedy, the brother of assassinated President John F. Kennedy and the elder statesman of American liberal politics, has a malignant brain tumor, his doctors said on Tuesday.Kennedy, 76, who has been hospitalized in Boston since he had a seizure on Saturday, will likely need chemotherapy and radiation therapy to treat the glioma, a type of tumor that usually kills within three years.A brief statement by Dr. Lee Schwamm of Massachusetts General Hospital and Dr. Larry Ronan, a primary physician there, did not give details on Kennedy's diagnosis or outlook and did not mention the possibility of surgically removing the tumor -- the best hope for longer survival."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," the statement said."Decisions regarding the best course of treatment for Senator Kennedy will be determined after further testing and analysis," it said. They doctors said Kennedy would remain at the hospital for the next couple of days and added: "He remains in good spirits and full of energy."Other experts called the diagnosis a serious one and agreed the tumor would very likely kill Kennedy.Kennedy, who has been a senator for 46 years, is one of the most respected figures in U.S. politics and news of his condition prompted a wave of shock and sympathy in Washington."We're pulling for our pal. And I know he is determined to fight this," said fellow Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, like Kennedy a former presidential candidate.President George W. Bush, a Republican with many opposing political views but who worked with Kennedy on a major education bill, called him a "man of tremendous courage, remarkable strength, and powerful spirit" and said: "We join our fellow Americans in praying for his full recovery."

Source: http://www.reuters.com

Learn more about brain tumor:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/brain-tumor/DS00281

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_tumor

http://www.medicinenet.com/brain_tumor/article.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/brain_tumor/

http://neurosurgery.mgh.harvard.edu/abta/primer.htm

Kennedy diagnosed with malignant brain tumor

Senator Edward Kennedy, the longtime Massachusetts Democrat and head of the Kennedy family, has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, his doctors said.
Doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston who were investigating the cause of a seizure that Kennedy, 76, suffered at his Cape Cod compound on Saturday, said Tuesday that preliminary results from a biopsy of the brain had revealed that the senator has a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe, the upper left part of his brain.
Dr. Lee Schwamm, the hospital's vice chairman of neurology, and Dr. Larry Ronan, Kennedy's primary-care physician at the hospital, said in a statement that "the usual course of treatment includes combinations of various forms of radiation and chemotherapy." Decisions on treatment, he said, will be determined after further testing and analysis.
News of the brain tumor surprised people in Washington, in Massachusetts and beyond, generating reaction from around the world, where Kennedy's family legacy and his 46 years in the Senate have made him a well-known figure.
Aside from an unsuccessful run for president in 1980, Kennedy, known as Ted, has focused his energy on issues such as health care, education and civil rights. Despite his liberal ideology and occasional loud clashes on the Senate floor, Kennedy is held in high esteem by Republicans for his determination, understanding of issues and willingness to work in a bipartisan fashion.

"Senator Kennedy enjoys great respect and admiration on this side of the aisle," said Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader. "He is indeed one of the most important figures to ever serve in this body in our history."
In a statement, President George W. Bush said, "Ted Kennedy is a man of tremendous courage, remarkable strength, and powerful spirit." Bush said he and his wife, Laura, "join our fellow Americans in praying for his full recovery."
Doctors and people close to Kennedy said he would remain in the hospital for the next couple of days. The doctors said he was "in overall good condition." He has not had another seizure since he was hospitalized, they said.
"Right now, he's his normal self, except for the news that he's dealing with," said a close friend who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "I bet he'll be back at the Cape sailing this weekend."
Malignant glioma is the most common form of brain cancer, accounting for about 9,000 cases diagnosed each year in the United States alone, according to the National Cancer Institute. They are more common in older people, especially those between 75 and 84, according to the American Cancer Society.
The prognosis varies depending on the type and severity of the tumor, and the patient's age.
Dr. Patrick Wen, clinical director of the Center for Neuro-Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, said the average prognosis for the most aggressive type of tumor is 14 months to 15 months, while the prognosis for slower-growing tumors is two years to four years.
"This is a sad situation," Wen said, adding that such tumors can sometimes affect sensation, speech or vision, and that tumors in older people tend to be more difficult to treat. "These are, unfortunately, aggressive tumors."
Alain Charest, an assistant professor of neurosurgery at Tufts Medical Center, said if the tumor could be removed surgically, doctors would do so, although gliomas are difficult to remove.
Senator John Kerry, the junior senator of Massachusetts, also a Democrat, said he had visited Kennedy over the weekend.
"He's in a fighting mood," Kerry said. "He is asking questions about what the choices are for him. He's deeply involved in making all the kinds of personal decisions that any of you would."
Pam Belluck reported from Boston, Carl Hulse from Washington. Katie Zezima contributed reporting from Boston.

Source: http://www.iht.com/