Kennedy's brain surgery "successful"

Sen. Edward Kennedy
Now if chemotherapy and radiation can kill what's left he should be in pretty good shape.

One report I read said Kennedy was awake throughout the operation. Yuck!

Sen. Edward Kennedy successfully underwent surgery Monday in Durham, N.C., for a malignant brain tumor, his surgeon said.

Dr. Allan Friedman, who performed the surgery at Duke University Medical Center, pronounced the operation a success and said it "accomplished our goals." Up next: chemotherapy and radiation, aimed at shrinking whatever is left of the tumor.

"The main goal is to remove as much of the tumor as possible to give any other therapy that we do a better chance of working," said Dr. John Sampson, associate deputy director of Duke's brain-tumor center.

Kennedy, 76, was given a diagnosis two weeks ago for a malignant glioma in the upper left brain after suffering a seizure at a family residence on Cape Cod, Mass. His surgery followed initial treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Kennedy told his wife, Victoria, immediately after the surgery, "I feel like a million bucks," a spokesman recounted.

Too bad he'll lose all that terrific white hair, but its better than the alternative.

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A Fast Note on Strokes

Senator Kennedy (D-Mass) has apparently been flown to Boston due to stroke-like symptoms.

Is this more important news than your grandmother's having a stroke? Come on. Of course not, but he's an icon.

As for Jim Macdonald who wrote this post, I have no idea what his credentials are, but he sure as shit sounds authoritative.

I've been meaning to write a post about Strokes and Head Injuries (sometime after the long-delayed Trauma And You, Part IV), and this isn't going to be it. It'll just be a few quick notes.

Note: Headline links to source.

Breaking: Senator Edward Kennedy Rushed To Hospital, Shows Symptoms Of Stroke

I just heard about this via Blue Gal which happens when one lives in a cave with bats and guano.

Have I always agreed with Sir Ted? Hardly. I often don't agree with myself.

But, for a multi millionaire who has no fucking obligation to do anything, he's always been good for America. His loss or incapacitation would be a huge crime.

Crooks and Liars has more.

Sen. Edward Kennedy was rushed to Cape Cod Hospital in Massachusetts Saturday morning, a well-informed, prominent Democratic source in that state told CNN.

The source said the 76-year-old senator had “symptoms of a stroke.”

Kennedy was taken to the hospital around 8 or 9 a.m. from the Kennedy family compound in Hyannis, according to the source. The source said the senator would be transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

That hospital said it had no information on Kennedy.

Kennedy has represented Massachusetts in the Senate since 1962. He is one of only six senators in U.S. history to serve more than 40 years. He is known as a liberal champion of social issues such as health care, family leave, and the minimum wage.

Even if you're a non-believer, please send your prayers. God won't mind.

Note: Headline links to source.