Senator Teddy Kennedy Has a Brain Tumour

By ALISON CAMPSIE

US SENATOR Teddy Kennedy has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour.

Mr Kennedy, 76 was taken to hospital on Saturday after suffering a seizure at the family home on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. His doctors confirmed in a statement that Mr Kennedy, the younger brother of the late President John F Kennedy, is suffering from a malignant glioma, a tumour in the central nervous system, and will require chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Neurologist Dr Lee Schwamm, of Massachusetts General Hospital, said: “We’ve done a series of tests on Senator Kennedy to determine the cause of his seizure. He has had no further seizures, remains in good overall condition and is up and walking around.

“Preliminary results from a biopsy of the brain identified the cause of the seizure as a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe. The usual course of treatment includes combinations of various forms of radiation and chemotherapy. .”

Asenior Democrat and a leading liberal voice in US politics, the senator has recently been seen on the campaign trail supporting the Democratic party presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

Mr Kennedy has served since 1962 and is the second-most senior member of the Senate. He is a critic of the invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Originally published by Newsquest Media Group.

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