Kennedy Diagnosed With Malignant Brain Tumor

News Type: Event — Seeded on Tue May 20, 2008 1:20 PM EDT

Article Source: The Washington Post

us-news, kennedy, ted-kennedy, malignant-brain-tumor, dianosed-with-brain-tumor

BOSTON -- Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's doctors has a malignant brain tumor, according to his doctors.

Doctors for the Massachusetts Democrat said tests conducted after Kennedy suffered a seizure this weekend show a tumor in his left parietal lobe. His treatment will be decided after more tests but the usual course includes combinations of radiation and chemotherapy.

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Groups: Centervine, HealthVine, Open Mic, rationalists
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{"commentId":1822209,"authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

ShaunV

His wife and children have been with him each day but have made no public statements.

{"commentId":1822209,"threadId":"267182","contentId":"1501196","authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

6 votes

#1 - Tue May 20, 2008 1:21 PM EDT

{"commentId":1822324,"authorDomain":"tombombadil"}

Tom Bombadil

My thoughts and prayers will be with him and his family, and I pray all the best for him during this difficult time. One of my heroes, Admiral Jeremiah Denton, served in the US Senate for one term (R-Alabama) with Senator Kennedy. Though they were ideological opposites, they became great friends.

Sad news such as this transcends politics.

{"commentId":1822324,"threadId":"267182","contentId":"1501196","authorDomain":"tombombadil"}

11 votes

#2 - Tue May 20, 2008 1:51 PM EDT

{"commentId":1822340,"authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

ShaunV

Though they were ideological opposites, they became great friends.

I admire that trait in people. I have very good friends who hold differing political views. Still, we get along.

{"commentId":1822340,"threadId":"267182","contentId":"1501196","authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

7 votes

#2.1 - Tue May 20, 2008 1:54 PM EDT

{"commentId":1822391,"authorDomain":"chum"}

Chum

He has made several campaign appearances for the Illinois senator in February, and most recently another in April.

Sad news. Should we assume the author is referring to Obama here?

{"commentId":1822391,"threadId":"267182","contentId":"1501196","authorDomain":"chum"}

3 votes

#3 - Tue May 20, 2008 2:10 PM EDT

{"commentId":1822483,"authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

ShaunV

I think that makes sense.

{"commentId":1822483,"threadId":"267182","contentId":"1501196","authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

5 votes

#3.1 - Tue May 20, 2008 2:33 PM EDT

{"commentId":1822476,"authorDomain":"killfile"}

Killfile

I seeded the MSNBC version (after shaun) here, but I'll copy my comment here as well.

This is a very very serious type of brain tumor. Malignant Glioma comes in two basic flavors, WHO Grade 3 [anaplastic (malignant) astrocytoma] and WHO Grade 4 [glioblastoma multiforme, the most common glioma in adults].

Neither offer a great prognosis. Survival times are typically no more than 3 years with Grade 4 giving about a year until the patient succumbs.

We'll know more once we have some specifics on the tumor, but the odds don't look very good for Senator Kennedy. While the man has many many political enemies on both sides of the aisle and here on Newsvine, I would ask those so inclined to pray for him and his family.

{"commentId":1822476,"threadId":"267182","contentId":"1501196","authorDomain":"killfile"}

4 votes

#4 - Tue May 20, 2008 2:31 PM EDT

{"commentId":1822479,"authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

ShaunV

Thanks for the additional information, Chris.

{"commentId":1822479,"threadId":"267182","contentId":"1501196","authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

6 votes

#4.1 - Tue May 20, 2008 2:32 PM EDT

{"commentId":1822971,"authorDomain":"wharrison55"}

Bill Harrison

Ughh!! That's definitely not good vis-a-vis the prognosis. Teddy was just reelected in '06 so should he decide to resign now for health reasons Democratic governor Deval Patrick could appoint someone to serve out the remainder of his term unless MA is different than most states.

{"commentId":1822971,"threadId":"267182","contentId":"1501196","authorDomain":"wharrison55"}

4 votes

#4.2 - Tue May 20, 2008 4:27 PM EDT

{"commentId":1823051,"authorDomain":"paperdragon"}

Dennis P. McCann

It sounds like he'll have to resign, but let's not put the cart before the horse. At this point all we can do is wish him well.

{"commentId":1823051,"threadId":"267182","contentId":"1501196","authorDomain":"paperdragon"}

5 votes

#4.3 - Tue May 20, 2008 4:44 PM EDT

{"commentId":1823100,"authorDomain":"killfile"}

Killfile

He should resign.

In the best case he'll need his strength to fight this and no doctor in his right mind would suggest that Kennedy remain in the Senate. The man is in his 70s. If he's going to beat this it will take everything he's got.

And in the worst case he's got a mass pressing on his brain. We really have no idea what that's going to do to his personality, his mind, or anything else. While I have profound respect for Kennedy, if this goes badly it won't be the Senator that his constituents elected running the show, it will be the tumor.

Either way, the best thing for him and for Massachusetts is for him to step down.

{"commentId":1823100,"threadId":"267182","contentId":"1501196","authorDomain":"killfile"}

4 votes

#4.4 - Tue May 20, 2008 4:54 PM EDT

{"commentId":1823893,"authorDomain":"Rixar13"}

Rixar13

My prayers are with Edward Kennedy and his family. Time to set differences aside although I am with his line of thought.

{"commentId":1823893,"threadId":"267182","contentId":"1501196","authorDomain":"Rixar13"}

3 votes

#4.5 - Tue May 20, 2008 8:21 PM EDT

{"commentId":1824040,"authorDomain":"geejay"}

TheJonesGirl

I agree, killfile. Kennedy should focus on his family and enjoying life. Terrible news, my thoughts are with him and his family. He's fought the good fight for years and years, here's hoping he can continue to do the same with this tumor.

{"commentId":1824040,"threadId":"267182","contentId":"1501196","authorDomain":"geejay"}

1 vote

#4.6 - Tue May 20, 2008 9:06 PM EDT

{"commentId":1824560,"authorDomain":"wharrison55"}

Bill Harrison

Apparently the way it works now is that the MA legislature changed the law to state that in such a case a special election would have to be held if Sen. Kennedy were to be incapacitated or resign. This was enacted by the legislature in '04 to keep Mitt Romney from appointing someone to serve out a term if something similar happened. It would be interesting, as some are intimating, if Romney squared off against say Joe Kennedy for the latter's uncle's seat.

{"commentId":1824560,"threadId":"267182","contentId":"1501196","authorDomain":"wharrison55"}

2 votes

#4.7 - Wed May 21, 2008 12:10 AM EDT

{"commentId":1824735,"authorDomain":"Lulu124"}

Lulu124

Isn't is more common for an ailing Congressman to just take a "Leave"? They hardly ever actually resign.

{"commentId":1824735,"threadId":"267182","contentId":"1501196","authorDomain":"Lulu124"}

2 votes

#4.8 - Wed May 21, 2008 1:52 AM EDT

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Sen. Ted Kennedy Diagnosed With Malignant Brain Tumor	CNN	Tue May 20	0
BREAKING: Doctors say Sen. Edward Kennedy has a brain tumor	Yahoo! News	Tue May 20	9
Statement from Kennedy's doctors on brain tumor	Associated Press	Tue May 20	0
Medical News: Kennedy Diagnosed with Glioma - in Neurology, Brain Cancer from MedPage Today	medpagetoday.com	Wed May 21	0
Boston contemplates life after Ted Kennedy	Associated Press	Sat May 17	6

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Kennedy Diagnosed With Malignant Brain Tumor

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