Ted Kennedy's Battle with Brain Cancer

(CBS)  The malignant brain tumor that took the life of Sen. Edward Kennedy was an aggressive form of brain cancer called a malignant glioma, CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton said on "The Early Show" Wednesday.

Kennedy, who was 76 when he was diagnosed, received aggressive treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy and possibly radiation, Ashton said.

The prognosis for brain tumors like Kennedy's, Ashton said, is "very poor," with only a 50 percent survival rate within the first year of diagnosis, and only three months of survival if left untreated.

Complete coverage: Ted Kennedy's life and legacy
However, Kennedy survived 14 months after he was diagnosed, Ashton pointed out.

Contributing factors to survival rates, Ashton said, include the age of the patient and the person's general state of health. Ashton said Kennedy was in a generally good state of health.

Ashton added the length of time Kennedy lived after he learned of the tumor was a testament to his steadfastness. She said, referring to his months of treatment, "It really, in a lot of ways, exemplified how strong he was, and what kind of battle he was able to wage against this particularly aggressive form of cancer."

The American Cancer Society estimates that 22,070 malignant tumors of the brain or spinal cord will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year. About 12,920 people will die from these tumors in 2009.

[Jehnavi]

Cancerous tumors of the brain and spinal cord differ from tumors in other parts of the body, Otis W. Brawley, M.D., American Cancer Society's chief medical officer said in a statement. "Unlike tumors that start in the rest of the body, whose most deadly aspect is their ability to spread throughout the body, brain tumors almost never spread to other organs," Brawley said. "The most dangerous aspect of these tumors is that they can interfere with essential, normal functions of the brain."
http://www.justcancer.org/facts-and-information-on-brain-cancer.html

[woeisme1]

Ted Kennedy was soooo right on so many things and wrong on soooo many things.

A man, born into extradornary priviledge, he was a stalwart for the less fortunate, a champion for the rights of the common man. It'll be 100 years, if ever, that we witness as great a Senator - truly the Lion of the Senate has passed.

Ted Kennedy, despite his failings, was, never-the-less, respected by the world for his tireless efforts to shore up the rights of the less fortunate, to champion the causes of the common man.

America will miss him - I know I will.