Breaking: Kennedy Has a Malignant Brain Tumor

x(

On MSNBC now.

Update: in left Parietal Lobe

2nd Update: Preliminary results malignant glioma based on brain biopsy

:cry:

Fucking Kennedy luck.

This is heartbreaking.

and he may have many more :hug:

But 76 is still too young. I wanted him to overtake Byrd.

Sorry, I'm such a pessimist.

Ted is a fighter and God willing I hope he beats this cancer.

After reading the news a few minutes ago I was eager to see out his eulogy at Bobby's funeral and it still leaves a lump in my throat. The same words could be applied to Teddy himself.


That is the way he lived. That is what he leaves us.

My brother need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life; to be remembered simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it.

Those of us who loved him and who take him to his rest today, pray that what he was to us and what he wished for others will some day come to pass for all the world.

As he said many times, in many parts of this nation, to those he touched and who sought to touch him:

"Some men see things as they are and say why.
I dream things that never were and say why not."

I'm gonna cry... :(

The pessimist in me has already determined it's a glioblastoma.

Fuck. fuck. fuck.

Amazingly, I have a friend whose mother survived this tumor. They were actually able to excise it. That is extremely rare, but it's the hope that I'm clinging to right now.

and she had 4 chemo sessions & 4 radiation sessions and it came back bigger & "badder"..she died on May 2nd , at home with her 7 & 4 yr old sitting on her bed with her :(

Surgery, chemo, radiation, trials...

it was gonna be bad. I'm so shocked. :(

God damn it.

then it must be really bad. Like a few months to live bad. :(

Man, I feel so hopeless right now.

Awful.

Oh god...

It doesn't look good... my prayers to his family and friends... He has done so much good throughout his years in the Senate

If it's operable, most people will jump on that.

Gliomas are so rarely operable to begin with.

news..let's hold on

People who have been through it can offer a lot of insight. I appreciate that.

stage IIIB..and refuse to be beaten. My doctors had to contemplate my treatment too because it was advanced..and sometimes they like to do chemo and radiation before surgery to see if it is possible to shrink the tumor.

Sometimes, they have to conference with other doctors before deciding on what course to take. In my case, my doctors conferenced with Sloan-Kettering physicians (they are considered the best when it comes to cancer), could be Kennedy's doctor's are doing the same.

Doesn't have to be a death sentence.

I can't imagine how difficult it must be for you, but you have my admiration for your indomitable spirit and determination.

A good friend of mine managed to beat back pancreatic cancer, which is also often looked at as a death sentence. I know that they are able to do a lot these days. I hope it's not too late for Kennedy.

I'm very glad your friend is okay..and yes...it's a different medical world we live in...now!

It was operable. That was over 25 years ago now.

I'm clinging to that right now.

very common symptom of the presence of a brain tumor is seizures.

Best wishes for Senator Kennedy and his family.

:(

He is someone I have a lot of respect for.

We should send roses.

:(

Stay well Teddy.

this is so sad.

My best wishes to Sen. Kennedy and his family.

Words fail me.

We love Senator Kennedy! :cry:

God please bless Senator Kennedy

This is horrible. :(

Please Senator Kennedy, be well.... please be well....

We had a neighbor who was also diagnosed with one after a seizure. Unfortunately from seizure to diagnosis to death in his case was only a few months, which was horrible since he had two small kids. However I understand that some brain tumors are much slower growing and more treatable, and I'm really hoping this turns out to be one of the latter.

Sigh

before they know.

~

She also appeared in good health and spirits before the seizures and crushing headaches, and even after her tragic diagnosis. She lived three more months.

My heart is breaking and I'm only praying that it's not a malignant tumor, and that if it is, it isn't as horrible as a glio.

Damn

The reason I said what I said is because my mom's friend had a benign brain tumor removed...

:-(

:cry:

:cry:

My thoughts are with him and his family. I hope his prognosis is positive.

I hope there's something they can do.

OMG...

:cry:

:cry: read the thread above

this Kennedy has had a very long record of service to this nation. But it sure would be great to have him around a hell of a lot longer. :(

And Rush, you had better think twice about making fun of this.

Terrible, terrible news. God bless him.

Sigh.

:cry:

:(

:(

Good thoughts

:(

When they said he had a seizure instead of a stroke, I knew there was going to be a reason for it. I'm deeply saddened by this.

I'm praying for him.

I wish him and his family the best.

If we don't have our health, nothing else is really that important. Best of luck to Senator Kennedy and his family.

x(

Praying that it's operable, and that he recovers.

He's always been one of my heroes.

Godspeed and good luck, Old Lion.

On edit: Here's a short story about TK to maybe lighten the mood. It makes me smile every time I think about it.

In 2003, my wife and I went to the first meeting in the Senate Office Building in DC to discuss advancing liberal media outlets (both Air America and Nova M were the eventual result of this conference). The entire day was a series of visits by senators to hear our ideas for advancement of liberal media in this country. About midway through, Senator Kennedy was scheduled to appear. We all took a short break and headed into the hall to wait for Kennedy to show up.

After a couple of minutes, the mood in the hall became electric, and people were buzzing that Kennedy had arrived. I looked down the hall and saw the senator approaching - with a dog on a leash!

I asked one of the Senate pages what the deal was with the dog, and he told me it was Teddy's dog, and he didn't go anywhere in the Senate without him. We re-convened to the conference room, the senator (with dog!) came in and took a seat to await his turn to speak. His dog curled up at his feet and went to sleep. Senator Kennedy made his remarks, took a few questions, then got up to leave. His dog, on cue, woke up and headed out of the room with him.

Many things have been said about Teddy Kennedy over the years, and the legend often outpaces the actual man. But I thought that day that any senator who takes care of business with dog in tow was just beyond cool.

Love the family, love the man. Sincerely hoping for the best in a bad situation here.

- as

God why.. :( Why god..why does it have to be like this

I hope its small and not malignant.

A malignant glioma to be specific.

:cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry::cry:

:cry:














:cry:

It's what he does.

:( :hug:

He and Kay Bailey Hutchison, along with the Armstrong Foundation, are working on it right now.
Plus, MGH is a pretty solid place for cancer treatment.

If ever a guy started out of the gate with his death certificate in hand, it was him. I know he's younger than Kennedy, but even if Teddy can get another five or ten years after this, that would be miraculous.

Now I'm in tears.

Not good folks, not good.

:cry:

As I posted above, I pray it's not a glio, which is what took my stepmother's life.

This is the worst possible news. A glio is as bad as it gets. Hers was inoperable. She lived another three months after diagnosis, but went downhill quickly.

No!!!! :cry: :cry:

I'm so sad. Why did this happen to him? :cry:

malignant :scared:

:(

it spreads most rapidly so surgery, radiation, and chemo need to be done soon. My friend was diagnosed with this at 31, and had several surgeries, chemo, all of it. A year later she was gone. :(

:-(

Get Better Teddy!

I never cry at anything. I'm glad I didn't have to work today.

nt

Poor guy. What's his prognosis like?

It's always the good guys who go too soon.

:cry:

NO NO NO

He will be in my prayers tonight and let's all be there for Teddy and his family.

very sad.....

Here's hoping he'll beat this and continue to be the lion of the senate for years to come.

I was about to post it too because I just saw it on the NYT's website. There's no story yet, only the "breaking news" line and one sentence:

Breaking News 1:15 PM ET: Doctors for Senator Edward M. Kennedy Say He Has a Malignant Brain Tumor

Goodness knows that Teddy has angered me lately, but I wish him Godspeed and a full recovery.

I'm sure he is surrounded by the best physicians/surgeons and there may be something they can do to help him.

My strongest thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

I am devastated.

Is this related to the seizure or something else?

:cry:

I thought it was going to turn out to be nothing major...that really sux. Is this the first time he has been diagnosed?

I knew he had to have something wrong with him because we were talking about it at a Hillary fundraiser this past Saturday and some of the people there were doctors and brought that up as one of the possibilities for the seizures.

I hope that it's not spread and that he can recover.

:cry: :cry: :cry:

MSNBC person just said "He has the worst kind of breast cancer.....I mean, brain cancer." Who's on tv right now, I'm in the other room.

Body language is odd...

I know I am.

He's old, I expected we could lose him sometime soon, but not NOW fer chrissakes. Not when there's a glimmer that the liberalism he championed is at long last ascendant. He deserves to see it happen.

Bless you, Teddy. Stay with us for a while.

:(

Best energies to Teddy and his family. Get well soon, friend.

:grouphug:

the seizure, so maybe that is good news? They also said average survival rates is 18 months to 2 years if the surgery went well.

That doesn't make sense. If the surgery goes well couldn't it cure him?

It's a very fast spreading form of brain cancer. x(

Because the brain is so delicate and complex, if they dig too deep they could really impair him for life. They can generally just slow down its progress with surgery and a combination of chemo/radiation. Provided it doesn't end up spreading anywhere else.

He's a young guy in his 30s, but doctors warned him that brain tumors can come back.

Hopefully not, for this young man and for Teddy.

This is definite?

If it's operable, that's actually very significant.

that when (him or his brother? I couldn't hear) had a diabetes scare last year, Ted Kennedy called him and started naming all of his relatives who are dealing with diabetes, and reassuring him. MSNBC coverage has been good so far. Lots of personal stories. Everyone seems really shaken up. Oh god, Chris just said that Ted helped get "white people" to vote for Obama before the Virginia and DC primaries. Wasn't the endorsement before Feb 5th, and everyone wrote it off when he didn't win Mass? I really hope they focus on Ted and don't try and talk too much about the "campaign effect".

edited: Chris has diabetes, thanks for those who responded. I have heard that before, but I completely forgot.

One edit: your last sentence is correct. It was before Feb. 5th and the pundits poo-pooed his endorsement after Obama didn't win Massachussetts. (I think I spelled that right)

Chris Matthews is much better talking about the personal stories with Ted, he's doing that again now.

:cry:

My first vote was for Teddy in the California Democratic Primary.

I just missed getting to see him in P-Town in 2000. He was there for a film fest that honored Lily Tomlin. He stopped in a little store for some water. The guy at the registar told me he I missed him by about 5 minutes!

She's still doing well and is an extraordinary, wonderful woman.

Amazingly enough, her tumor was excised by Dr. Ben Carson, a preeminent African American neurosurgeon and a true medical legend.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Carson

Isn't he the doctor who has developed a "vaccine" of sorts for certain brain tumors? I will go read the wiki.

But I'm not sure if it's listed on the wiki.

My father is fascinated by Dr. Carson and I'm pretty sure he mentioned this to me. I'll go look it up, as my father requested I do long ago. :blush:

My friend was operated on by Dr. Keith Black at Cedars about 6 months ago.
When the surgery was finished,the other Brain surgeons that operated with him told her son, "they had never seen a patient live that had her specific diagnose."

I will have to find out from her exactly what her problem was originally.


One evening I was in the Visitors Reception area. I looked up to see this African American Dr. walking down the hall from her room. The best way that I can describe it is that people walking toward him seemed to bow in his present. He did not seem to notice but it was a riveting moment.
He was not pompous at all. I knew immediately it was Dr. Black.

My friend's daughter hurried over to talk to him and he took the time to talk with her in detail about her Mom.


http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/car1bio-1

Both Keith Black and Ben Carson have saved many a life and they just happen to be African American.

I relate this story because none of us on this earth know or should care about the RACE or GENDER of another human being.

None of us have any idea who will be the one that helps us through our life's journey.

I pray that the Kennedy family will call on Dr. Black to assist in his surgery.

http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/1088.html

And how wonderful is it that we both have personal anecdotes about these ground-breaking black surgeons?!?!

:cry:

:cry:

Very sad, very bad news.

When Teddy said this, at JFK Jr.'s Memorial, it made me weep like a baby. That phrase made the floodgates open. For some reason, it came to mind again watching this coverage. And it is making me cry again.

Also to his friends in the Senate.

A larger factor might be his history with carotid artery disease. Vascular issues like that make surgery more complicated.

They have no information about location, size or staging.

We have to keep that in mind.

They're talking about averages here. And I would say that Teddy is generally above average! :)

I witnessed that in chemotherapy twice already! People with the same diagnosis, stage and grade, react completely different to the same treatment!

Averages are just that averages...

Coming in so rapidly.

My father has cancer. He should have been dead years ago, according to the statistics. But the 5-year statistics don't take into account a new treatment which has sent his cancer into remission. I don't know what's in the works with gliomas, but if anyone's going to have access to it, it's Mass General!

daily basis. When I started chemo in January I had to come home with an infusion pack and sleep with it for 24 hours and then return the next day toting this unit over my shoulder. By the time February rolled around for the 2nd treatment, it was no longer necessary. Modern medicine had made a huge leap in two and half weeks. So, I agree completely with you...

I wish your father and the rest of your family the best! It can be beaten.

Did they say?

Just remember that everything you are hearing now is pure speculation.

It's not good, but it's not necessarily as bad as the media is carelessly reporting.

There will never be another one like him, so I think we should keep him a bit longer. ;)

Dammit. :cry: :cry: :cry:

Is anyone else hearing the type of glio is glioblastoma?

Which he most certainly has not.

He's just talked to some doctors that actually know shit and is foolishly repeating and misinterpreting information that is above his head.

I was thinking, "how the hell does he know what kind of glio it is?"

That's what someone posted a few minutes ago, unless I misunderstood...

They are going to nail this grade before they begin treatment.

My boss is a neuropathologist. I'm going to have to ask him about this.

and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family:cry:

Mr. Senator. My hearts with you.

:cry:

all i can say is that i hope the treatment options are far more advanced than when my Mom had it.

I'm terribly sad to hear this news.

:hug:

:cry:

the cancer which didn't get diagnosed until about 12 years later. I have no doubt that there have been some advancements made and i wish Ted nothing but well, also to his family because it's really going to be a tough road.

bunch of feelings i need to go clean my way through, i'm sure there is some tile grout that needs a good scrubbing in my house.

:hug:

Yeah, I'm gonna go do something too

I just finished chemotherapy for Ovarian cancer and battled breast cancer several years ago..lost my father to prostate cancer, my aunt to lung cancer and my paternal grandmother to breast cancer...and my olderst sister to kidney cancer!

Fight through it!

I send you my best..I really do!

and i'm truly sorry for your losses.

:hug:

My prayers are with the Senator and his family. :cry:

Dodd could barely get his words out. This is terrible...

They had to run many tests on her to determine what functions were associated with the region of the tumor (I think it was called the WADA test) and then they actually turn parts of your brain function off (to see if you loose speech, sight, etc...) once they ran these procedures you have a better idea of the risks you are facing my trying to remove it. I bet Kennedy will have to go through the Wada test. In her case she went through one hell of a brain surgery (at 27 years old), but it was a success........ unfortunately because it is so dangerous to get everything, the think a little piece of it as left and she started having seizures about 8 years after this operation and know it seems like a tumor is back, but it did buy her 8 perfectly healthy years before she had to start dealing with it again.

Is it grade 3 or 4? Someone said grade 4 is the worst...do they know yet which one it is?

Multiple neuropathologists are going to weigh in on this one.

But NOBODY knows yet, so don't buy into this doomsday scenario that the media is portraying.

And like I said, I know a woman who has survived 25+ years after a Stage 4 glioma.

This is so heartbreaking.

This is terrible news.