Sen. Kennedy Has Gone Into Surgery For His Brain Tumor - Update: Surgery Completed, Succesful
UPDATE:
HAM, N.C. (AP) - Sen. Edward M. Kennedy is out of surgery at Duke University, and his doctor says a procedure to treat his cancerous brain tumor “was successful and accomplished our goals.”
The 76-year-old senator now faces chemotherapy and radiation to treat the malignant glioma, a lethal type of brain tumor.
Kennedy surgeon Dr. Allan Friedman says Monday his patient was awake during the 3 1/2-hour procedure, and should experience no permanent neurological effects from the surgery.
A spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Democrat says Kennedy spoke with his wife, Vicki, right after surgery. He told her: “I feel like a million bucks. I think I’ll do that again tomorrow.”
Well, I ain’t gonna mince words here.
Lots of folks have a bad view of Teddy … Me too. But I’m also a believer in bad karma … so I won’t throw negative barbs in here (some at kos should believe in bad karma too …)
Anyhow, I will say I have known three people, younger than Kennedy, who have had similar brain tumors and surgeries. Most recently (just a couple years ago) my cousin who, at the time, was a Tech. Sgt. in the Air Force … and didn’t survive more than a few days past the surgery.
It’s tough, cancer, as it is … But brain tumors have a way of not really presenting serious symptoms until they are pretty much past the point of no return.
Not for me to judge, Sen. Kennedy … but I do wish his family and children hope and comfort during this time.
And that’s all I got …
Kennedy to undergo surgery at Duke for brain tumor
DURHAM, N.C. - Sen. Edward M. Kennedy was set to undergo surgery Monday at Duke University Medical Center for his cancerous brain tumor and then faces chemotherapy and radiation treatment, his office said.
The 76-year-old senator was diagnosed last month with a malignant glioma, an especially lethal type of brain tumor. A statement from the Massachusetts Democrat’s office said the surgery would take place on Monday morning in Durham, N.C., by one of the nation’s top neurosurgeons, Dr. Allan Friedman, followed by chemotherapy and radiation.
Anthony Coley, a Kennedy spokesman, said the surgery is scheduled to begin around 9 a.m. and expected to last about six hours. He expects to remain at the North Carolina facility for one week to recuperate and then will begin further treatments at Massachusetts General Hospital and start chemotherapy.
“I am deeply grateful to the people of Massachusetts and to my friends, colleagues and so many others across the country and around the world who have expressed their support and good wishes as I tackle this new and unexpected health challenge,” Kennedy said in the statement. “I am humbled by the outpouring and am strengthened by your prayers and kindness.”
Kennedy said that over the past few days he and his wife, Vicki, “along with my outstanding team of doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital, have consulted with experts from around the country and have decided that the best course of action for my brain tumor is targeted surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiation.”
Kennedy said he selected a team of neuro-oncologists from Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital and Duke University Medical Center.
The hospital at Duke is next on the north side of the campus of the elite private college in Durham, about 30 minutes west of the state capital in Raleigh. Aside from several television trucks parked outside, there was little sign that a notable patient was inside.
Friedman is “one of the thought leaders” and a giant in the field of neuro-oncology, said Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, speaking from Chicago, where more than 30,000 cancer specialists are attending an American Society of Clinical Oncology conference.
Friedman is chief of the division of neurosurgery in the surgical department at Duke and also co-director of the neuro-oncology department there. His clinical interests are brain tumors, skull-based tumors, peripheral nerve surgery, pituitary tumors and cerebrovascular disaster, according to his resume on the medical center’s Web site.
After his treatment, Kennedy said, “I look forward to returning to the United States Senate and to doing everything I can to help elect Barack Obama as our next president.” Kennedy has endorsed Obama, the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Kennedy was hospitalized May 17 at Massachusetts General Hospital after undergoing a seizure at his home on Cape Cod. Doctors later announced that he had a malignant glioma in his left parietal lobe, a brain region that governs sensation but also plays some role in movement and language. A malignant glioma is the worst kind of brain cancer.
Malignant gliomas are diagnosed in about 9,000 Americans a year. In general, half of all patients die within a year. The brain tumor research center at Duke is conducting several clinical trials in malignant glioma.
Kennedy likely will receive the chemotherapy drug Temodar during and after radiation, said Brawley. The pivotal study showing the drug’s value for brain tumors was presented three years ago at the clinical oncology conference. Kennedy also may be treated with Avastin, a newer targeted drug to deprive the tumor of its blood supply, though this is still experimental at this stage of treatment.
When operating, “the surgeon usually does as much as possible within the bounds of safety. We do not want to do neurological damage in an effort to remove as much of the tumor as possible,” said Dr. Mark Gilbert, a brain tumor expert at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Typical radiation treatment is five days a week for a month, using 3-D imaging techniques that narrowly deliver the beams to the tumor, affecting as little surrounding tissue as possible.
Kennedy has a history of seeking top medical care available for his family. He pulled daughter Kara out of Johns Hopkins and brought her to a Boston hospital when he was not satisfied with the initial course of treatment she was getting for lung cancer five years ago.
In addition to his congressional health insurance plan, which is often described as one of the most generous in the country, Kennedy’s wealth gives him the means to afford the best possible health care. The senator is known to reach into his own pocket and pay supplemental salary to staffers who otherwise might be tempted to leave his office for better paying jobs.
(AP)
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
I am praying for his speedy recovery only for one reason, the ad-nauseum coverage of what a swell guy Teddy was and how lucky America was to have had him.
Yeah, swell guy, just ask Mary Jo Kophecne how swell of a guy he was when he left her to drown.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:53 amSame goes for me drillanwr. As much as I despise his warped ideology and know that all 3 of his brothers would be embarrassed by his voting record. I wish him and his family success in beating his affliction. If Teddy doesn’t return to his post you can bet one of his uber liberal relatives will be voted in right away.
You’d think that the voting public in Taxsachusetts would figure out the relationship between liberals and taxes. Thet chose a good Governor in Mitt Romney for 4 years! Maybe there’s hope yet.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:04 amHe doesn’t need chemo. He just needs Scotch. That’d kill the tumor - assuming they could raise his alcohol level above its normal 25%. But seriously, I’m sure he’ll be able to afford the best medical care out there for the duration - after all, he is a Kennedy.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:18 amI’m with ya’ Drill on keeping my opinions about Kennedy at this time to myself.
However, the following paragraphs from the article made me stop and ponder; This from a guy who supports government managed, tax payer funded health care for us plebes?
“…the surgery would take place…by one of the nation’s top neurosurgeons…“one of the thought leaders” and a giant in the field of neuro-oncology”
“….my (Kennedy) outstanding team of doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital, have consulted with experts from around the country…”
“Kennedy has a history of seeking top medical care available for his family.”
“In addition to his congressional health insurance plan, which is often described as one of the most generous in the country, Kennedy’s wealth gives him the means to afford the best possible health care.”
So if government mandated health care is heaped upon the rest of us as Dem politicians have stated is their plan, will these same Dem public “servants” and their families still continue to receive the best “top medical care available for (them and their) family?” No doubt.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:19 amAs I mentioned to someone this morning, I have no love for Sen. Kennedy as a politician — he and I couldn’t be more polar opposite politically — I do have love for him as a human being.
There will be plenty of time to criticize and analyze his life and politics in the appropriate time….as for now, though, my thoughts and prayers are with the Senator and his family.
Here’s to a speedy recovery, Mr. Kennedy!
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:22 amThe Big Guy upstairs will eventually see that you get what’s coming to you. Teddy’s behavior during the Koepechne incident was horrible and in my opinion he got away with, at the very least manslaughter. Now the Big Guy has his say and Teddy is paying a price for his past behavior. Let’s not forget Teddy’s seditous remarks to the world when our troopers were fighting their way up Hamburger Hill!!!
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:26 amI would wish cancer on nobody (except maybe Osama) so I won’t tell you or anyone that I think he is a drunken farting lunatic liberal bastard who is spoiled beyond imagination… Oops.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:26 amI just want to know why he didn’t go to Cuba to have it done…anyone? How ’bout Canada? Maybe the UK? I guess he wanted the best care and he wanted it soon….
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:43 amI know several people his age that had the same surgery done. Only one came out with no ill effects. If Kennedy is one of the lucky ones, then he beat the odds.
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:41 amThe article is obviously incorrect.
The headline should have read:
“Kennedy Brain Surgery Failed- Still a Democrat”.
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:27 pmSo he feels like a million bucks, does he? Wait til he gets the bill - it probably IS for a million bucks (not that he minds…a million is probably pocket change for him).
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:32 pmI am awed by you all. The above posts uniformly show concern and even affection for the man is his trouble, despite the extreme disagreement we all share with his performance as a senator.
This is a major reason why I feel more at home within the conservative movement than I ever could with the libs.
If the roles were reversed, as they have been in the past, the liberals would be dancing in the streets (with their pals the terrorists), and they would be calling for the speedy demise of W.
Mat 5:44 “But I say to you, love your enemies”
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:19 pm