Tuesday, May 20, 2008
U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy has a malignant brain tumor, doctors treating him at Massachusetts General Hospital said Tuesday.
Kennedy, 76, was hospitalized Saturday morning after suffering a seizure at his family's compound at Hyannisport, Massachusetts.
"Preliminary results from a biopsy of the brain identified the cause of the seizure as a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe," according to a statement from the doctors treating the senator.
Malignant glioma is the most common primary brain tumor, accounting for more than half of the 18,000 primary malignant brain tumors diagnosed each year in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute.
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said President Bush was "deeply saddened" by the news and would keep the senator in his prayers.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she was confident Kennedy would get through his health crisis.
"Sen. Kennedy has been a fighter all his life," she said.
"He is a fighter -- a fighter for our children, for our workers, for our seniors. He is a champion fighting for health care for all Americans.
"I know that that fighting spirit will hold him in good stead in the challenge that he faces now."
Kennedy had surgery in October to clear his carotid artery in hopes of preventing a stroke.
In recent days, the powerful Democrat appeared in fine health. On Friday, he took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new maritime learning center in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
He suffers chronic back pain from injuries suffered in a plane crash in 1964.
The usual course of treatment for Kennedy's type of tumor includes radiation and chemotherapy, said a statement from Dr. Lee Schwamm, vice chairman of the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Dr. Larry Ronan, primary care physician at the hospital.
"Decisions regarding the best course of treatment for Sen. Kennedy will be determined after further testing and analysis," the doctors continued.
"Sen. 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."
Kennedy has represented Massachusetts in the Senate since 1962. He is one of only six senators in U.S. history to serve more than 40 years. He is known as a liberal champion of social issues such as health care, family leave and the minimum wage.
Senate Democrats and Republicans were in their weekly closed policy lunches in the Capitol when the news of Kennedy's diagnosis broke.
Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada announced the news to his Democratic colleagues. The wind was taken out of the room, said one senator. There was "stunned silence," said another.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, a close friend of Kennedy's, released a statement saying, "Ted Kennedy has spent his life caring for those in need. Now it's time for those who love Ted and his family to care for them and join in prayer to give them strength."
New Jersey Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg said, "Ted Kennedy makes the Senate the place that it is, and has for so many years."
Kennedy, 76, was hospitalized Saturday morning after suffering a seizure at his family's compound at Hyannisport, Massachusetts.
"Preliminary results from a biopsy of the brain identified the cause of the seizure as a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe," according to a statement from the doctors treating the senator.
Malignant glioma is the most common primary brain tumor, accounting for more than half of the 18,000 primary malignant brain tumors diagnosed each year in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute.
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said President Bush was "deeply saddened" by the news and would keep the senator in his prayers.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she was confident Kennedy would get through his health crisis.
"Sen. Kennedy has been a fighter all his life," she said.
"He is a fighter -- a fighter for our children, for our workers, for our seniors. He is a champion fighting for health care for all Americans.
"I know that that fighting spirit will hold him in good stead in the challenge that he faces now."
Kennedy had surgery in October to clear his carotid artery in hopes of preventing a stroke.
In recent days, the powerful Democrat appeared in fine health. On Friday, he took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new maritime learning center in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
He suffers chronic back pain from injuries suffered in a plane crash in 1964.
The usual course of treatment for Kennedy's type of tumor includes radiation and chemotherapy, said a statement from Dr. Lee Schwamm, vice chairman of the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Dr. Larry Ronan, primary care physician at the hospital.
"Decisions regarding the best course of treatment for Sen. Kennedy will be determined after further testing and analysis," the doctors continued.
"Sen. 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."
Kennedy has represented Massachusetts in the Senate since 1962. He is one of only six senators in U.S. history to serve more than 40 years. He is known as a liberal champion of social issues such as health care, family leave and the minimum wage.
Senate Democrats and Republicans were in their weekly closed policy lunches in the Capitol when the news of Kennedy's diagnosis broke.
Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada announced the news to his Democratic colleagues. The wind was taken out of the room, said one senator. There was "stunned silence," said another.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, a close friend of Kennedy's, released a statement saying, "Ted Kennedy has spent his life caring for those in need. Now it's time for those who love Ted and his family to care for them and join in prayer to give them strength."
New Jersey Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg said, "Ted Kennedy makes the Senate the place that it is, and has for so many years."
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