Ted Kennedy Has Malignant Brain Tumor

Doctors Say Tests Conducted After Senator Suffered Seizure Reveal Brain Cancer

(CBS/AP)  A cancerous brain tumor caused the seizure Sen. Edward M. Kennedy suffered over the weekend, doctors said Tuesday in a grim diagnosis for one of American politics' most enduring figures.

"I have to be honest," Kennedy's wife Victoria said in a statement, "we've been pitched a real curveball. Rest assured, this is only the first inning."

"He remains in good spirits and full of energy," the doctors for the 76-year-old Massachusetts Democrat said in a statement.

They said tests conducted after the seizure showed a tumor in Kennedy's left parietal lobe. Preliminary results from a biopsy of the brain identified the cause of the seizure as a malignant glioma, they said.

His treatment will be decided after more tests but the usual course includes combinations of radiation and chemotherapy.

Nationally known brain cancer expert Dr. Maciej Lesniak from the University of Chicago told CBS News Radio that chemo and radiation very often are ineffective, and certainly don't cure this type of tumor. He also puts the average survival time at just over a year. He says often the discovery of this type of tumor is the "tip of the iceberg" - an indication that there are other cancer cells existing in the brain or elsewhere.

Dr. Lynne Taylor, a neuro-oncoloist and a member of the American Academy of Neurology, advises there are some potentially critical pieces of information aren't publicly known. Taylor told CBS that the size, grade and location of the tumor would all be factors in Kennedy's treatment.

"It could be too big and in a location, that means surgery can't be done, or get it all," she said. "It could be, given the exact location, surgery could cause severe problems, including the loss of the ability to communicate."

Kennedy has been hospitalized in Boston since Saturday, when he was airlifted from Cape Cod after a seizure at his home.

Kennedy's father-in-law told CBS station WBZ-TV on Monday that the senator had suffered two seizures before reaching the hospital. Only one has been reported by officials.

WBZ said Kennedy had the second seizure during the helicopter ride to Mass. General, according to father-in-law, Edmund Reggie.

"He has had no further seizures, remains in good overall condition, and is up and walking around the hospital," said the statement by Dr. Lee Schwamm, vice chairman of the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Dr. Larry Ronan, Kennedy's primary care physician.

They said Kennedy will remain in the hospital "for the next couple of days according to routine protocol."

---

CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook explains some possible treatments that Sen. Kennedy may receive.

---

Kennedy's wife and children have been with him each day since he was hospitalized. Senator Kennedy's son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., plans to stay at the hospital for the time being.

"Obviously it's tough news for any son to hear," said spokeswoman Robin Costello. "He's comforted by the fact that his dad is such a fighter, and if anyone can get through something as challenging as this, it would be his father. So he's optimistic, he's hopeful, but obviously he's concerned."

President Bush was notified by his staff of Kennedy's diagnosis at 1:20 p.m.

CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller reports that after Kennedy helped enact the No Child Left Behind program, President Bush was full of praise for him.

"He is a fabulous United States senator," the president said. "When he's against you, it's tough. When he's with you, it is a great experience."

Now, after learning of Kennedy's condition, Mr. Bush issued a statement calling Kennedy his friend and a man of tremendous courage. He said he prays for his full recovery.

"Take care of my friend," the president told Kennedy's wife on Monday, according to Kennedy spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter.

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 an initial 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 - or to about five years for different types that are slower growing.

CBS News correspondent Randall Pinkston reports that in the Senate, where Kennedy has served more than 40 years, the news shook his colleagues to the core - on both sides of the aisle.

"Thank God for you, Ted, thank God for you," said a visibly distraught Senator Robert Byrd D-W.Va., the only member who has served longer in the Senate than Kennedy.

"I'm really sad," former Sen. Bob Kerrey, D-Neb., said when told in a Senate hallway about Kennedy's condition. "He's the one politician who brings tears to my eyes when he speaks."

"I am so deeply saddened I have lost the words," Sen. John Warner, R-Va., said in a Senate hallway. Warner said he and Kennedy had been friends for 40 years. Both served on the Senate Armed Services Committee together.

"You know like Churchill once said in the darkest days of the battle, Britain - never, never, never give in," Warner said later speaking to his congressional colleages, "and those words are in Ted Kennedy's mind right now. He'll take on this challenge."

"I have said on numerous occasions, I have described Ted Kennedy as the last lion in the Senate," said Republican presidential hopeful John McCain. "And I have held that view because he remains the single most effective member of the Senate if you want to get results. He is not reluctant to share the credit. And when he fails, he is willing to take the blame."

Kennedy's family continues to remain positive. In a photo released Tuesday afternoon, the smiling senator is shown with his family in the hospital.

In her upbeat public statement, Victoria Kennedy said, "Teddy is leading us all as usual, in his calm approach to getting the best information possible."

Kennedy, the second-longest serving member of the Senate and a dominant figure in national Democratic Party politics, was elected in 1962, filling out the term won by his brother, John F. Kennedy.

His eldest brother, Joseph, was killed in a World War II airplane crash. President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 and his brother Robert was assassinated in 1968.

Kennedy is active for his age, maintaining an aggressive schedule on Capitol Hill and across Massachusetts. He has made several campaign appearances for Sen. Barack Obama in February, and most recently last month.

Kennedy, the senior senator from Massachusetts, was re-elected in 2006 and is not up for election again until 2012.

Were he to resign or die in office, state law requires a special election for the seat no sooner than 145 days and no later than 160 days after the vacancy occurs.

[walker1209]

I am no fan of Senator Kennedy''s since he weaseled out in this political season in favor of Senator Obama but I wish him a speedy recovery and hope that
he is up and around and back with his family ASAP.

Attempts at being funny or cute when one is ill are not appreciated dragonwagon5...if you can''t say something nice or constructive, keep it to yourself is advisable.

[jetlizhan]

just don''t let him drive (especially any place near water).

[mudrose-2009]

What? His hospital stay he was euthanized! Oh, oh, scrutinized. Pshaw!

[thisandthat1]

Wish him all the best and a speedy recovery! He''s a great American.

[r_bob1965]

I guess those here that are throwing stones are pure... Politics is important...Fun to talk and joke about, but wishing somebody ill health? PLEASE! Shame! Shame on them!

As for me I hope the senator gets well soon and is back in Washington just as quick.

[katbo64]

Just goes to show you the difference in medical care that people in office get vs REAL people.
Says anyone else would have been release the same day, yet he''s been there for FOUR.
Obviously he doesn''t have HMO.

[obriann]

Sen. Kennedy''s health problems, and how severe they are, are none of our business!

[faith_in_w]

Its all booze related no doubt. God is now punishing him.

[missingamerica]

Sen. Kennedy''''s health problems, and how severe they are, are none of our business!

Posted by obriann at 09:46 AM : May 20, 2008

I don''t know about that - Kennedy is a master at working out "compromise" legislation.

Should he be unable to return to the Senate, it will push the Democrats in Congress that much closer to the operating style of the Bush-era Republican majority, wherein the Republicans merely "fell in line" to trample the Democrats (and Democracy) as if they were members of the Soviet Congress under Stalin.

[olebd]

For sure, if it were you or I or any other "commoner", the doctors would have had us back out on the street in a day or two. And with a half a dozen new and expensive prescriptions to be filled.

[byeneocons]

Kennedy''s drunken a$$? What do you think we have in the White House. Kennedy has been sober a lot longer than Bush. Kennedy doesn''t have a 15 year black hole in his resume with no explanation. Kennedy never paid his housekeeper 50K per month for synthetic morphine, like your hero Rush Limbaugh.

Get a clue Neocon.

[nolalou]

I wonder if the tax payers in his district get as good of health care as his drunken @$$ gets? (for Free)
Posted by cornbiker

Setting aside the crudeness of your remark, we could all have health care as good as U.S. Senators get if a national health care bill passes and gets signed into law! That''s one of the major issues Senator Kennedy has been fighting for! Maybe then heartless idiots like you might qualify for a heart transplant, or maybe brain surgery!

[legalru]

I certainly don''t wish him any ill health, just the same treatment and compassion that was shown to Mary Jo. As for today, anyone that defends him as a ''great American'' must be just as big a hypocrite as he is. He claims to be such a big environmentalist and yet is the first one in line to vote against anything to do with any form of alternative energy. And his vast family is right in line with him. THEN they claim that Republicans are the oil hogs.
Murderers, drug addicts, and hypocrits.

[legalru]

"Kennedy never paid his housekeeper 50K per month for synthetic morphine, like your hero Rush Limbaugh."
I''VE NEVER HEARD THAT RUSH LIMBAUGH, OR PRES. BUSH RAN AWAY FROM A MURDER THAT THEY COMMITTED, HAVE YOU?

[louklou51]

Senator Ted Kennedy has been and still is an outstanding public servant save for one unfortunate incident which we all know, he has been a tireless advocate for health care for all Americans and the health care system has a lot of flaws, sure, but he is trying his best to reform it. Give him a break and get well soon and back to your service in the Senate.

[johnpatrick9]

Despite any perceived personal foibles at least the Kennedys'' like the GRACCHI Brothers of Rome, stood for the People and not the abusive arrogance of the Priviledged. Thankfully they did not become selfish, bigoted Republicans and instead, like the Irish Chiefs of old, stood by their People and not the Arrogant Rich. Liberal and Progressive and not Fascists like so many have become in our once proud land.

[faith_in_w]

sbbm, his life has been a real long "unfortunate accident".

[jeepmanjr]

Geez...sure are a lot of crazies loitering around here!

[barbaraf4]

Probably they transfered him to rehab.

[nottellin1]

Setting aside the crudeness of your remark, we could all have health care as good as U.S. Senators get if a national health care bill passes and gets signed into law! That''''s one of the major issues Senator Kennedy has been fighting for! Maybe then heartless idiots like you might qualify for a heart transplant, or maybe brain surgery!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by nolalou at 10:15 AM : May 20, 2008

You must be kidding!!! Do you honestly believe that the health care proposals will give you the same care as a US Senator? Not liklely, all Universal Health Care will get you is an HMO like plan. Sorry, no helicopters rides, no extra days in the hospital and most definately managed care only through your primary care doctor and no specialists unless referred.

[blondbeotch]

louke7--you people haven''t given Bush or Cheney any kind of break this last 7 years----why should we give your murdering, drunkard old man one?? I FOR ONE WOULD NOT MISS HIM!!!

[blondbeotch]

OOMBA1 12:33 YADA, YADA, YADA-----SAME OLE, SAME OLE---your lying, thieving, murdering people get away with everything and ours have to pay the price--I am so sick of the double standard!!! Like I say, I wouldn''t miss Kennedy one bit, or a few others in your corrupt party

[sblake63]

This is called Karma for endorsing Obama.




Posted by ObombA1 at 12:31 PM : May 20, 2008

____________________________

No such thing is Karma. Only the day of Judgement all shall face when it''s their time to go. We all will face CHRIST. Not some washed out eastern religous concept such as Karma LOL.

[shawnp1968]

louke7--you people haven''''t given Bush or Cheney any kind of break this last 7 years----why should we give your murdering, drunkard old man one?? I FOR ONE WOULD NOT MISS HIM!!!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by blondbeotch

Let me see..... one death compared to 4000 and counting. I''d say Kennedy is a saint compared to your president. (a.k.a. the devil in disguise)

[blondbeotch]

shawnp1968---LOL Well, you are wrong, in fact a moron to say BUSH killed 4,000---find some new Lib talking points---thats getting old--- Kennedy should have been kicked out of Congress years ago--murdering drunk!!

[blondbeotch]

Just saw Kennedy has a brain tumor------paybacks are hell!!!

[dorlockt]

WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Please let the tumor grow swiftly and potently.

[byeneocons]

blondbeotch: What goes around, comes around. Enjoy your tumor.

[byeneocons]

It''s amazing to watch all the compassionate conservative christian republicans celebrating someone else''s cancer.

No wonder Bush got elected.

[dorlockt]

Let me see..... one death compared to 4000 and counting. I''''d say Kennedy is a saint compared to your president. (a.k.a. the devil in disguise)

Posted by SHAWNP1968 at 01:09 PM : May 20, 2008

One death in cold blood vs 4000 deaths fighting to preserve the free world. What backwater Al Qaeda camp did you say you were from?

[sgtrds-e4]

A true giant, a true lion of the senate and one of the last truly great men in there. I wish him nothing but the best and hope a way can be found for treatment. This is a dark day.

[briannorwood]

Good luck Mr. Kennedy. We will be praying for you.

[dorlockt]

It''''s amazing to watch all the compassionate conservative christian republicans celebrating someone else''''s cancer.

No wonder Bush got elected.

Posted by ByeNeocons at 01:28 PM : May 20, 2008

The good thing is, I know he''s going to h*ell...so once he dies, I''ll NEVER have to see him again... unlike yourself.

[sgtrds-e4]

It''''s amazing to watch all the compassionate conservative christian republicans celebrating someone else''''s cancer.

No wonder Bush got elected.

Posted by ByeNeocons at 01:28 PM : May 20, 2008

That''s because they''re all phony Christians.

[libh8er]

I''''d say Kennedy is a saint compared to your president. (a.k.a. the devil in disguise)
Posted by SHAWNP1968 at 01:09 PM : May 20, 2008

Technically, Kennedy has killed more people than Bush (not counting Laura.) Are you really Hugo Chavez in disguise??? LOL

[singingrick]

Well just look at all the fine fake-Christians celebrating the fact that a man has a life-threatening disease.

[cfin5]

Uh oh, that''s not good. Better check out what "Hydrazine Sulfate" could do to starve the tumor from being able to eat glucose.

[haoli25]

SEE!!! I told you his head wasn''t empty.

[singingrick]

Well that explains alot... He never has done anything except be a drunk...

Posted by guyfrompa45 at 01:29 PM : May 20, 2008


Are you talking about Bush?

lol!

[libh8er]

''This is a dark day.''

For Teddy! :) For the rest of us, it''s like adios de lib Kennedy-O. One down, several more to go.

[sgtrds-e4]

Well just look at all the fine fake-Christians celebrating the fact that a man has a life-threatening disease.



Posted by singingrick at 01:31 PM : May 20, 2008

I''ll second that. they go to church every Sunday and mouth the words and never really understand them or try to practice them in their everyday lives. That makes then pathetic hypocrites.

[randaids]

A true giant, a true lion of the senate and one of the last truly great men in there. I wish him nothing but the best and hope a way can be found for treatment. This is a dark day.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by SgtRDS-E4 at 01:29 PM : May 20, 2008

You''re scaring me if this is what you truly believe. And whats with the E-4? Did someone steal your ID again? Oh wait, I''m sure it is your military grade for the 2 minutes you spent at the end of the Vietnam war.

[obamasgranny]

That explains his lack of judgement with respect to Obama!! If this is god''s punishment for supporting Obama, I can''t wait to see what God has in store for Richardson!!

[sgtrds-e4]

For Teddy! :) For the rest of us, it''''s like adios de lib Kennedy-O. One down, several more to go.

Posted by LibH8er at 01:32 PM : May 20, 2008

Go to your church and tell that to Christ. See what answer you get back.

[dorlockt]

I hope it''s a long, slow, painful process for him, just like his leeching off of American tax dollars all of this time!

[libh8er]

''That''''s because they''''re all phony Christians.''

There are no phoney Christians because Christianity doesn''t exist, right? That'' what you''re so fond of saying. Can''t have it both ways, you pusillanimous pile of horse squeeze!

[shop752]

I have never read such vile comments! How many of you who have left these nasty comments sit piously in church every Sunday? No matter how you feel about someone''s politics or them personally no one deserves to have this type of illness. If you truly believe that God gave Senator Kennedy this illness because of the life he has led, I can''t wait to see what he rains down on you because of your hateful hearts. As to the comment of someone who said "what goes around comes around", yes it certainly does and you would do well to remember it.

[faith_in_w]

I always knew there was something wrong with his brain for him to have the viewpoint he did. So it was a tumor. Oh my!

[rowdytexan2]

Senator Kennedy has promulgated a lot of good legislation for the benefit of the people this country...and has been a statesman for the people...even when he could''ve lived a life of leisure for the rest of his life.

This is not karma, nor justice...it is just the frailty of the human body.

I wish him well as he travels through the journey before him.

[obamasgranny]

God''s will be done,.....