Kennedy Leaves Hospital, Goes Sailing

Senator Will Recuperate From Risky Brain Surgery In Cape Cod Before Starting Radiation And Chemotherapy

(AP)  Ted Kennedy has gone sailing again.

Just hours after he returned home to Massachusetts from a North Carolina hospital where part of his brain tumor was removed, Kennedy and his wife were out sailing in the waters off Cape Cod.

It's the same routine he followed last month after being released from a Boston hospital following his diagnosis.

Kennedy's office says he will continue to recuperate at home before starting the next phase of his treatment. The surgery a week ago was aimed at improving the success of chemotherapy and radiation.

His son, Congressman Patrick Kennedy, says he plans to have dinner with him tonight.

As for the benefits of being at home, Patrick Kennedy says it "always makes him feel great being near the ocean."

Kennedy left the hospital Monday morning and arrived at his family's compound in Hyannis Port on Cape Cod just before noon.

Kennedy told reporters waiting outside his home, "It's good to be home, good to be here."

The Massachusetts Democrat was diagnosed last month with a malignant glioma, a lethal type of brain tumor, after having a seizure at his Cape Cod home. A malignant glioma is one of the worst kinds of brain cancer, and malignant gliomas are diagnosed in about 9,000 Americans a year.

Kennedy, 76, underwent the risky, 3½-hour surgery last Monday to remove as much of the tumor as possible, a procedure aimed at improving the success of chemotherapy and radiation. His surgeon at Duke, Dr. Allan Friedman, said Monday that Kennedy "is making an excellent recovery."

"He will continue his recuperation at home in Massachusetts under the supervision of the very capable doctors at the Massachusetts General Hospital," Friedman said in a statement.

Kennedy's son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., told the Providence Journal on Sunday that his father's surgery "went better than anyone expected." He said his father is looking forward to returning to the Senate and working with Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama on universal health care legislation should the Illinois senator win the White House.

"That is what he is talking and thinking about," Kennedy said. "It adds a great deal of poignancy to his recovery. But that's how he sees it - he has to recover so he can get health care for the millions of people who don't have access to the care that we do."

Kennedy told the newspaper that his father wants to begin writing the legislation this year so it would be ready if Obama was victorious.

Kennedy's family and doctors have released few details about the particular type of tumor, which plays a key role in determining his survival odds. Some cancer specialists have said Kennedy appears to have a glioblastoma multiforme - a serious and tough-to-remove type of tumor - because other kinds are more common in younger people.

Doctors familiar with the type of surgery have said it almost never leads to a cure, but radiation or chemotherapy treatments have a better chance of success because there's less tumor to fight.

"The senator and his wife Vicki are wonderful people, and I hope you will join me in wishing them the best as they continue their difficult journey to fight this disease," Friedman said. "Their courageous and positive attitude is a lesson for us all."

[jehovahwtnss]

With reference to the allegations that McCain was responsible for the deaths of over 140 fellow crewmen, I believe that the poster was referring to the accidental launch of a missile on the deck of the USS Forrestal in 1967. Although John McCain was indeed there at the time and was in fact preparing for take off, the article I read did not clearly indicate whether the missile came from his aircraft, nor did it say who was to blame for this accident. However, I am sure that McCain must have been exonerated by the subsequent enquiry because he went on to fly many more missions before being shot down and captured by the North Vietnamese.

[ruby0728]

Members of Congress and U.S. Senators HAVE government insurance, similar to what Senator Kennedy proposes we ALL have , you IDIOT! The real point is , if we had the same coverage he does, then we could get the same good treatment he got!


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

LOL!! His money buys him the best docs.....and the average govt employee does not have the same luxury

Just like he got away with vehicular manslaughter (minimally).....he believes he is not guilty.....lmao

This is the paradox of the Dems and why I do not and never will subscribe to their BS philosophy

[ruby0728]

Perhaps this surgery will give him back the use of the part of his brain that remembers how he drove drunk that night and crashed the car and walked away and delayed calling the police for many hours, leaving a young girl with her whole life ahead of her to suffocate.

for sure, right on the money there.

[haoli25]

I hope he was fitted for one of those ''manzziers'' before he went sailing. With ''moobs'' like his, he could hurt himself.

[barbaraf4]

"Wonder if the Kopechne family sent a get well card." Posted by sistatee
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Probably not. They are still feeling guilty about the payoff they took from the Kennedys.

[oneworldusa]

"Kennedy Leaves Hospital, Goes Sailing"

-Gee, I wish we could all afford rehab like that.
Wow, what a specimen. Brain surgery, then sailing, and dinner afterwards. I know he''s had his faults, but this man, especially being one of ''The Kennedys'' certainly seems to have 9 lives.

Working for America at age 76 and with no use for the money in doing so, I''ve learned a whole new respect for this man. Truly amazing.

[lochlan-2009]

cdfoxtrot

Your aren''t kidding. How many other patients with a malignant blastoma, especially in the brain get to go home sailing after surgery or even get surgery? Who floated this bill? I think we all know the answer to this one.

[one-american]

Ted - when the boom swings across the boat while jibing, it would be a good idea to duck your head.

[cdfoxtrot]

"Kennedy Leaves Hospital, Goes Sailing". Jeez it''s great to be rich! And to be able to pick and choose who does your surgery and be able to fly around the country to be treated by the very best in their field. I like Senator Kennedy. But, jeez, it''s great to be rich and well connected!

[sistatee-2009]

Wonder if the Kopechne family sent a get well card.

[barbaraf4]

"MichelleM99 , is that supposed to be English in your post, or one of those made-up languages that toddler identical twins sometimes use? None of us out here in CBS land have a clue what you are saying." Posted by FeelFreee4U
~~~~~~~~~~~
Play nice, kids. FeelFreee4U, MichelleM88 is legally blind and has a whole host of other physical problems that would probably preclude you from even participating on this board. She gives it her all and her participation is welcome.

[feelfreee4u]

MichelleM99 , is that supposed to be English in your post, or one of those made-up languages that toddler identical twins sometimes use? None of us out here in CBS land have a clue what you are saying.

[feelfreee4u]

Perhaps this surgery will give him back the use of the part of his brain that remembers how he drove drunk that night and crashed the car and walked away and delayed calling the police for many hours, leaving a young girl with her whole life ahead of her to suffocate.

[feelfreee4u]

The doctors removed his brain as a precaution. He''s now 7 grams lighter.

[feelfreee4u]

The removed his brain as a precaution. He''s now 7 grams lighter.

[michellem99-2009]

Ameria differs from the UK. In the US if ye kill yer locked up for life. It should be the same for the rich. We all pay for his care/fed. They locked joes up in the 60s for this. His name and money is the reason he is free. Bush has blood on his paws in that illegal war.

[questionnews]

Did he truly kill 114 of our servicemen by accident ? Is this true ??

Posted by parrot123

Can''''t find any reference to this anywhere. I think Steve''''s smoking the hard stuff.

Posted by USBrit at 03:35 PM : Jun 09, 2008

I also could not find any reference to what he posted. If it were true, you would think that all the libbies would have written songs about it.

[acolton1]

Kennedy will do everything in his power to stay in the senate until the Presidental Election and until January 20th. I think he will do everything he can to get a democrat elected as President in 2009.

[nolalou]

Seeing what Ted is going through I can''''t help but wonder what he would do if he had to seek treatment under a universal health system where his money couldn''t buy him the treatment he has received.

Members of Congress and U.S. Senators HAVE government insurance, similar to what Senator Kennedy proposes we ALL have , you IDIOT! The real point is , if we had the same coverage he does, then we could get the same good treatment he got!

[cpaide]

it will come as a surprise to teddy (and many of his brain-damaged, adoring fans) that the ability to con voters and to beat the law does not necessarily give one the ability to con or beat a cancer.

billary was kind enough to end her campaign when the time was right; teddy should do the same.