Ted Kennedy, 77, Dies 14 Months after Brain Tumor Diagnosis

Posted by Dr B on 8/26/09 • Categorized as Cancer-Brain,Neurological and Stroke,Politics

Edward “Ted” Kennedy (1932–2009)
Senator Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in the left parietal lobe of his brain after he suffered a seizure on May 17, 2008. He underwent surgery at Duke University on June 2, 2008 after which he received radiation therapy. His 14-month survival is, unfortunately, the average survival time for this type of tumor. Only 3-5% of patients survive for more than 3 years. Journalist Robert Novak also recently died from brain cancer 13 months after his diagnosis. Novak was operated on by the same Duke University surgeon who performed Sen. Kennedy’s brain surgery.

The U.S. Government spends about $200 million per year on brain cancer research. Currently there are more than 500 clinical research trials testing new treatments for the type of tumor Sen. Kennedy is thought to have had.

The parietal lobe of the brain is associated with movement, orientation, recognition and perception of stimuli.