Kennedy has a malignant brain tumor

Senator Edward Kennedy has a malignant brain tumor in his left parietal lobe. Our prayers go out to him and to his family. While I do not agree with Kennedy's politics, I wish him and his family nothing but good wishes and good health.

Kennedy is 76 years old and entered the hospital over the weekend after experiencing a seizure. After much testing, doctors have concluded that Kennedy has a Glioma malignant brain tumor.

Treatment for his tumor may include biopsy, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or some combination of these. However, this is a very serious condition, and the general thought is "Malignant brain tumors (gliomas) can rarely be cured by surgery and/or radiotherapy alone. Chemotherapy, as generally available, has been of limited value."

Malignant gliomas are a type of brain cancer diagnosed in about 9,000 Americans a year - and the most common type among adults. It's a starting diagnosis: How well patients fare depends on what specific tumor type is determined by further testing.

Average survival can range from less than a year for very advanced and aggressive types - such as glioblastomas - or to about five years for different types that are slower growing. (wcbstv)

Again, our prayers and thoughts go out to Senator Kennedy and his family.

Comments

[Aurora]

Debbie, I respect your stance on Kennedy. Yes he is a tragedy of a human who will leave a legacy of destruction behind him of lives who will never get the opportunity to die of natural causes. But I think you're right not to stoop to the level of the party-makers on the Left. I seem to remember a prominent Conservative in Bush's party having a serious illness which was immediately pounced on by so many people on the Left. I can't remember who it was now.

[Grouch at Right Truth]

I hate Ted Kennedy's politics and his methods, but he is a human being and an American and I wish him and his family only the best as they deal with this terrible illness.

I have several friends who are flaming liberals, and will fight with them tooth and nail over political issues, but when politics are set aside, they are still my friends.

[MK]

Good on ya Debbie, i don't know much about him, just that his politics are left leaning, none the less, i wouldn't wish cancer on anyone. Hope it goes well.

[nanc]

the way i figure is we all get what's eventually coming to us. God be with his Godfearing family members.

btw - i've also posted on this and asked that people be respectful...although not in quite the same manner as you have.

[Skunkfeathers]

Well..I'm a conservative. And I have disagreed vehemently for years with the politics of Ted Kennedy.

But unlike the Leftists who -- when it was announced that Ronald Reagan had Alzheimers -- laughed, yucked it up and made a wagonload of disparaging remarks, I won't lower myself to that of a progressive, leftist, et al. The Kennedy family has been many things, and cursed with a good deal of bad luck has been one of them. I wish nothing but the best for the Kennedys now. Doesn't mean I have to agree with them politically; it just means I can emphasize with a family in grief just now.

[Steve Harkonnen]

A message to Stormwarning:

I astutely refuse to make Debbie's blog a battlefield for wits over what I had said, but I will add this: Ted Kennedy is a murderer who was let off the hook. I consider his illness poetic justice.

But of course, I duly respect the fact that he is a family man and the patriarch for his family; I actually feel sorry for all of them. Sometimes we must put politics aside. Perhaps my humor was a bit off-key, but welcome to the blogosphere, where you will catch some of the most surprising and uninvited things that are said.

Most of all, let's not lose any sleep over this. I am certain that Ted Kennedy never lost a lick of sleep after he murdered Mary Jo.

[Debbie]

Friends: As I said in the post, I do not agree with Senator Kennedy's politics, however: He is more than a politician. He is a husband, father, grandfather, and a human being.

Yes he is for abortion and because of his vote (and the vote of many others), many children were murdered before they had a chance to breath their first breath.

But I will not stoop to the level of some on the Left, like Daily Kos and others, who jump for joy when a Republican meets with tragedy. I won't revel in the tragedy of others. It's not me.

[Stormwarning]

I wish to apologize to my good friend Debbie for passing judgment on some of the readers who chose to write derogatorily of a man dying of brain cancer.

HOWEVER, considering that my last outburst was prompted by Steve Harkonnen's statement that Teddy was "taking it in the head like a true Kennedy," I cannot stand idly. Both John and Robert died of head shots. The total lack of respect and historic perspective is sad and is beyond belief...and was purposefully atrocious.

With that, I leave (not that many will miss me). I cannot participate where people can be so heartless and cruel...and who, in addition to disrespecting a Senator of the United States, also chose to sully the memories of two outstanding and GREAT Americans...the former President, and his brother, Bobby, who left a generation of young voters at a time when his leadership was needed.

[Stormwarning]

The "compassion" of some of you conservatives is simply overwhelming. You have people like Layla and Debbie with whom I have frequently disagreed showing honest concern for another human being, and then you have "people" who don't understand the meaning of the word "compassion." To those who cannot overcome partisan hatred in a time like this to a person who has served the country (I don't care if you agree or disagree with his politics), SHAME ON YOU.

[Steve Harkonnen]

Well, he'll be well taken care of - on OUR dime.

What a trooper. Taking it in the head like a true Kennedy.

[Stormwarning]

Marshall Gill: You "sir" are subhuman.

[Americaneocon]

Thanks for the news...

I disagree with Kennedy's politics, but I've always admired him for tirelessly carrying on the Kennedy flame.

[Marshall Gill]

Would it be appropriate to rejoice if Hitler had come down with a brain tumor? Stalin? Mao? John Gotti? Is there no amount of evil that a person can commit, that if they get a horrible disease, they don't deserve pity? My own mother died of bone cancer almost 20 years ago. Not once was she involved in "legislating" the deaths of the unborn, and not once did she go home, after driving drunk into a lake where a passenger drowned, waiting several hours to call the police.

Why on earth should I feel sorry for this man, who has lived a life of evil? His family has enjoyed the benefits of his actions, but they deserve pity anyway? Huh?

"He is a human being"? How many of the unborn are dead because of this man's actions? They were not "human beings" in his book but that is A-OK?

Sorry, I personally hope that he suffers and I have not a shred of pity for his family either.

[Layla]

This is a sad day - I truly am so sorry for him and his family. No matter what people think of him good or bad, no one deserves this. He is a human being. May G-d bless him and heal him.

I posted on this too-heard it on the wires. It is so sad.

I am glad I have comment moderation Debbie, sorry off topic, but I am shocked how hateful some in the right conservative block are. I have had to delete about ten comments that were ill wishing and we thought only the left did that? I am so disappointed in some of the right wingers.