May 20, 2008
Sen. Ted Kennedy Diagnosed with Brain Tumor
The Associated Press is reporting that Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.
The tumor, on Kennedy's left parietal lobe, is known as a "malignant glioma," and was discovered when doctors conducted tests after Kennedy suffered a seizure over the weekend. The tumor has been determined to have been the cause of the seizure.
The 76-year-old senator has been hospitalized in Boston since Saturday, and doctors have not yet given a long term prognosis on his health. His treatment, which will likely include radiation and chemotherapy, will be decided after more tests.
The Politico posted the full statement from Dr. Lee Schwamm and Dr. Larry Ronan at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Over the course of the last several days, we've done a series of tests on Senator Kennedy to determine the cause of his seizure. He has had no further seizures, remains in good overall condition, and is up and walking around the hospital. Some of the tests we had performed were inconclusive, particularly in light of the fact that the Senator had severe narrowing of the left carotid artery and underwent surgery just 6 months ago. However, 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. Decisions regarding the best course of treatment for Senator Kennedy will be determined after further testing and analysis. Senator Kennedy will remain at Massachusetts General Hospital for the next couple of days according to routine protocol. He remains in good spirits and full of energy.Nothing about the tumor has yet been posted on Kennedy's official senate web page, though a form to wish the senator well after his seizure is available for his constituents. Kennedy has been in office since 1962, making him the second-longest currently serving member of the U.S. Senate.
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It took way too long for karma to cath up to this blow-hard.
@sordid:
Wow. You're a dick.
Ah, crap. Best wishes for a successful recovery, Senator Kennedy.
That's sad to hear. Hope it doesn't turn out as bad as it sounds.
Good Luck Senator and Godspeed.
if you're reading this blog senator, erra, erra, get well soon.
well crap.
this could potentially have huge political ramifications, like, in the mass this could be bigger than a presidential election.
(granted, in mass anything is bigger than a presidential election because we all know the outcome)
Very sad. My old boss died from a brain tumor, and it was really scary, especially because it can happen to anyone, good health or bad. I wouldn't wish this on anyone.
Also, when was this picture taken? He seems a bit younger here.
my goodness, i hope he'll be okay. one of my roommates and a few of my friends work in his office. they say he's pretty awesome, on top of his impressive tenure in office.
This both sucks and blows. I hope he pulls through.
Terrible news - perhaps the end of an era.
Sordid, don't be surprised if a couple of nice-looking young boys with Boston accents show up at your place tonight...just to have a little chat...
Maybe don't open the door. Or maybe do, for the rest of our sakes.
Why so much love for Kennedy? I don't get it.
hillrat - Generally, I think the love for Teddy K from the left is in response to the intense and deep hate that comes from some people on the right. See the first comment.. there are thousands upon thousands of comments like these all across blogs and news sites today.
Re: why all the love for Kennedy?
For me, it also has to do with the fact that he's the last of that generation of the Kennedy clan. We hang onto JFK & RFK via Teddy now.
@sordid:
The man had two brothers assisinated; karma 'cath'-ed up with him a long time ago.
Since when does wishing someone wouldn't die from a brain tumor equal love anyway?
Get well soon.
Sordid - that's low.
@Politburo
I understand that Rush Limbaugh hating something makes it very attractive to liberals, but Kennedy is a tough horse for me to get behind. Chappaquiddick anyone?
@hillrat: For me it's borne out of my deep admiration for RFK, and the belief that Ted, for all his flaws, has helped advance and, more to the point in today's political climate, perhaps, protect the progress that RFK and others like him helped set into motion all those years ago.
You don't have to agree with or even like someone to wish that they don't die of a brain tumor. It's called compassion.
And the guy can drink Shane MacGowan under the table. That's gotta count for something.
@mellbell
I'm shocked that someone like yourself who, as far as I can tell, seems to be a reasonable and decent person would profess this kind of admiration for Ted Kennedy.
hillrat - When you weigh Chappaquiddick against his legacy in the Senate, and his status as the last Kennedy (sorry, Robert Jr.) as jen209 mentioned, it seems a lot less important. While there are some questions about the incident that will never be answered, and Sen. Kennedy certainly is not blameless (by his own admission), it was almost 40 years ago. Authorities declined to press charges after several inquiries. For some, it seems like forgiveness only applies to people they like.
You don't have to agree with or even like someone to wish that they don't die of a brain tumor. It's called compassion.
Bollocks! Let there be a post about Dick Cheney dying of a brain tumor and watch the snarky posts pile up on DCist.
I'm torn on this. On one hand I'm incredibly sick and tired of the Kennedy-fetish that infects too many otherwise intelligent people. On the other, I feel sorry for anyone who gets malignant brain cancer. Then again, he basically killed a girl and never truly paid the price for it. But he's been a strong senator in the best tradition of that chamber, even though I frequently disagree with his unreformed liberal positions and grandstanding.
So I guess I'll just give my polite respect to the man, and leave it at that.
And Boondoggle, you ought to double check your own spelling before getting too snarky about others' spelling.
"And the guy can drink Shane MacGowan under the table. That's gotta count for something."
That's not much of an accomplishment. Shane MacGowan starts most nights passed-out under the table.
Oh, well, Dick Cheney - that's another story...
Agree with Reid above. About the mixed emotions, not the under the table stuff.
his status as the last Kennedy
WTF does that have to do with anything? I think I'll just quote Reid here, "I'm incredibly sick and tired of the Kennedy-fetish that infects too many otherwise intelligent people."
Sure. He's more liberal than I am. Sure. There's Chappaquiddick...
Given I'm an survivor of one (Ependymoma-Grade II-III),though, a brain tumor diagnosis trumps politics for me. Easily. (and that would apply to Cheney, if one were to befall him. I do not wish that fate on *anyone*).
Both tumor and treatment suck. Hard.
His age may be a factor, but his activity relative to age may very well be one too.
I disagree with everything about him but I can still wish him well. Brain Cancer is a terrible thing.
If you want to be sick and tired, be my guest.
The emotional attachment to the Kennedy clan isn't that hard to understand. I don't think I need to explain it to an otherwise intelligent person.
Given I'm an survivor of one (Ependymoma-Grade II-III),though, a brain tumor diagnosis trumps politics for me.
OK, that I understand.
hah, so true @ hillrat [25]
Though this is true for both sides, I gare-un-tee. As Politburo pointed out, sometimes political hatred knows no bounds.
yes everyone, please - you must first apologize about what might be said towards cheney BEFORE you say anything remotely resembling nice towards kennedy. even if it's just that you dislike brain tumors.
you'd think you people would know how this works by now
For me it's not just his happening to be the last Kennedy brother that's impressive but the fact that he has been such an accomplished legislator. Among the legislation he has authored or passed - COBRA, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, Family and Medical Leave, reducing the voter age to 18, raising the minimum wage, and No Child Left Behind. I've personally benefited from two of the above. For me, deficiencies in the man pale in comparison to the good works he has done for the country.
"and his status as the last Kennedy"
Uh, his son Patrick is a Congressman from Rhode Island, and can very easily win a Senate seat in that state, regardless of whether he crashes his car into a Capitol barricade while doped up on Ambien. I wouldn't consider Ted the last Kennedy.
Regardless of anyone's opinion, Ted Kennedy is a political force in this country. And this news is horrible, regardless if you are a political force or an average American. My thoughts are with his family.
I was confusing Robert Jr. and Patrick. Obviously I didn't literally mean the last Kennedy. I just don't think Patrick will ever attain the level that JFK, RFK, and Ted have. I'd be happy if he proves me wrong.
And the guy can drink Shane MacGowan under the table. That's gotta count for something.
And he still has his teeth (or good dentures.) Shane could learn something from him.
Having lost my father to cancer last year, I don't wish it on anyone - not even Dick Cheney.
Damn, I missed out on all of this after I made my post yesterday...but I stand by what I said. I don't care that he's a Kennedy, or he if was anyone else famous. Just b/c someone is popular or famous does not make this a matter that one should care about more than if someone they knew, or didn't know, were subject to the same type of event. I think excusing the murder of someone b/c he's a great senator, is laughable. No, I'm not a republican. Finally, the last time a bunch of guys with Boston accents showed up at my door we were celebrating the Red Sox win the world series.
P.S. Boondoggle, sorry for the typo, grammar-cop.