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GREAT NEWS!
I just heard on the radio while I was at the dentist's office (poor,
poor me) that Sen. Kennedy's brain surgery today was successful! Let's
just cross our fingers and, like Obama would say, hope that this fantastic and beloved politician gets well soon!
GET BETTER TEDDY!
LOTS OF LOVE FROM TPM!
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Comments (6)
While I wish it weren't so, there is no cure for the type of cancer, malignant glioblastoma, from which Senator Kennedy is suffering. In short, it will kill him. Probably within 18 months.
At his age, it's likely he has glioblastoma multiforme, which is the most aggressive form of primary brain cancer. Already, it's growing back, because it is virtually impossible to remove all of this type of extremely aggressive glioblastoma.
He does have the best care that money can buy - which means he will mostl likely live longer than a relative of mine, who passed away recently from glioblastoma multiforme...just four months after the initial diagnosis.
Hope is all well and good - but it must be tempered by realistic expectations.
(Update - they removed "much" of the tumor NPR says. As noted, what is left is already starting to grow back.)
June 2, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
The surgery and therapy will at least buy him time, and honestly, at his age that's a pretty good deal. I'm glad everything went well, and judging by the duration of the operation it went as well as it possibly could've.
June 2, 2008 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't be so sure. Surgery and chemo and radiation therapies are brutal even on young people. They can even have the effect of shortening lifespan. I hope that is not the case with Teddy.
June 2, 2008 5:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
If they felt that would be the case, would they be pursuing the therapy?
June 2, 2008 6:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
For glioblastoma multiforme - if I remember correctly:
Without treatment, prognosis is about three months.
With surgery only, about six months.
With surgery and chemo/radiation, 12 to 18 months.
June 2, 2008 6:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know someone who survived glioblastoma, but it probably wasn't multiforme.
June 2, 2008 9:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
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