hopes and prayers are for a relatively quick recovery
Do "malignant" and "recovery" go together? Or is it a matter of how many weeks, months, or years he has left? Very sad.
Posted by CG at May 20, 2008 11:15 AMA friend and colleague died of a malignant brain tumor three years ago. As with Senator Kennedy, the first symptom was a seizure. My friend was a brilliant toxicologist and an expert on methods. I was working with him on design of some experiments to measure how much lead would come off a person's hands and be ingested.
The problem with treatment was the radiation. Zapping a tumor inside the brain means exposing the brain itself to high levels of radiation.
Hopefully the prognosis for senator Kennedy will be better than it was for my friend. As for my friend, once radiation treatment started, he never worked again. It was difficult for him to speak or to be understood.
I'm sorry to hear about this. Ted Kennedy has lived a great life. He's had more than his share of tragedy but he has also been the most successful senator in United States history. Think of that: He has gotten more legislation passed than any other senator, ever. A big man in every sense of the word.
My heart goes out to him and his family.
Posted by kaleidescope at May 20, 2008 11:17 AMmalignant means it's growing- cancer. but many malignancies can be treated. it depends on the specific type, how rapidly it's growing, and how extensive it already is. let's hope for the best possible news on all counts.
Posted by Turkana at May 20, 2008 11:21 AMThanks, Turkana. I think I was thinking of metasticize (sp?).
Posted by CG at May 20, 2008 01:04 PMFrom what I've read, it appears to be a malignant glioma, which unfortunately the long-term prognosis is usually given a "poor" rating. It's all dependent on a number of factors including the type and classification of glial cells affected (glial blastoma multiforme is the most common and most aggressive), rate of spread, location, low-grade or high-grade gliomas, etc.
I hate putting a time-stamp on a prognosis like this, but from what I've read and from the little experience I've had with brain tumor patients, I would estimate a remaining lifespan of anywhere between 6 months to 5 years.
Posted by MisterOpus1 at May 20, 2008 01:11 PMSigh....it's events (and there have been a few recently that have touched my life lately) that put life and "issues" into proper perspective. Fortunately, he's in one of the best hospitals in the country with the best insurance and healthcare available (unlike thousands of others). As one of his constituents, my thoughts and prayers go out to Senator Kennedy, his family, and to all healthcare providers working their hearts out to treat their patients.
Posted by emal at May 20, 2008 01:39 PMemal,
i can tell you from personal experience that oncology nurses are living saints.
Posted by Turkana at May 20, 2008 01:46 PMturkana,
We are in huge agreement (once again) on that one...saints.... almost seems like an understatement.
i agree with kaleidescope's assessment: "He has gotten more legislation passed than any other senator, ever. A big man in every sense of the word."
and a lot of that has been progressive/liberal legislation. i especially thank him for the work he did years ago against the vietnam war and on the refugees of that war, and also his concern with health care. a big man indeed.
The loss of another great progressive, with no one to take his place. The failures of leadership multipy on and on.
Hard to imagine the country without him. He was a real "Fighter" for the people.
Posted by euzoius at May 20, 2008 02:15 PMeuzo,
let's hope that it's premature to use the past tense.
Posted by Turkana at May 20, 2008 02:18 PMHere's a very up to date article with some more medical information on the type and form of cancer he has from the Boston Globe...oy this doesn't. sound. good. at. all. I mean I realized it was significant and very life threateningly serious, but this article makes it sound like it's the worst case scenario for this specific type of cancer. Prognostically it looks very very poor.
Needless to say...he certainly is a living legend as others here have mentioned.
Posted by emal at May 20, 2008 02:19 PMMan, when Kennedy had the seizures this weekend I thought the obit was being delivered already.
Get well Ted, we need your voice!
Posted by Seven of Six at May 20, 2008 05:29 PMMy dad passed away from brain cancer two years ago. He didn't know he had it until he had a siezure. He lasted one week before passing away.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Kennedy family and friends, and also to the people who he has served for. I imagine many people feel like they're right along side an old friend as he goes through this.
In the blog entry I linked to, I mentioned picking up some home movies I had transferred from old super-8 reels to DVD. They came out great.
Posted by Muck at May 20, 2008 07:51 PMPolitically, there is probably nothing whatsoever that Senator Kennedy and I agree about.
My thoughts and prayers are with him during these difficult time. May God comfort his friends and family during these difficult times.
Posted by Markle at May 20, 2008 09:54 PMI have had my last two uncles and more than one friend pass away from brain tumors in the very recent past. All were heavy cell-phone users. You don't hear any of this in the mainstream media, but there is an epidemic of brain tumors that coincides with the introduction of this convenient, but electro-toxic device. Perhaps Mr. Kennedy's affliction could help bring this issue to light?
Posted by KB at May 21, 2008 04:02 PM