Kennedy Diagnosed With Brain Cancer

U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy has been diagnosed with the worst form of brain cancer, experts told the Associated Press (AP). Kennedy has a glioma in the left parietal lobe. This is in the upper part of the brain. It plays a role in sensation, speech, vision and movement on the right side of the body. Survival with gliomas usually is less than three years. For some types, it is less than a year. Treatments include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. However, Kennedy’s doctors did not mention surgery. Survival odds are reduced if surgery is not an option. AP wrote about Kennedy’s case May 21.