Last month it was a malignant glioma. This month, it was brain surgery.

What’s next for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy? Conquering the world?

Nope, just some good ol’ fashioned radiation and chemotherapy.

Once Kennedy recovers from the 3 1/2 hours of brain surgery he successfully underwent yesterday at Duke University Medical Center (during this recovery time, doctors will treat and observe him for brain swelling, seizures, bleeding, and blood clots), he’ll head back up north to begin radiation and chemotherapy at Massachusetts General Hospital.

While the outlook for patients with malignant gliomas isn’t great, the associate deputy director of Duke’s brain tumor center, Dr. John Sampson, thinks Kennedy’s surgery Monday brought hope.

And Kennedy? Well, according to this Yahoo! News article he says, “I feel like a million bucks. I think I’ll do that again tomorrow.”

Image: Newscom

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Sen. Edward M. Kennedy Survives Brain Surgery And Plans Radiation And Chemotherapy

Last Saturday, I informed you of Sen. Edward “Ted” M. Kennedy’s seizure, including Yahoo! News’s slightly humorous definition of seizure (”electrical storms in the brain” – well, the definition itself isn’t that humorous – just the images it conjures), and wished Kennedy a speedy recovery.

Unfortunately, we’ve since found out Kennedy’s recovery most likely won’t be that speedy.

Various news articles have reported that Kennedy has a brain tumor, and tests show his seizure was caused by malignant glioma.

From azcentral.com:

Malignant gliomas are a type of brain cancer diagnosed in about 9,000 Americans a year – and the most common type among adults. It’s a starting diagnosis: How well patients fare depends on what specific tumor type is determined by further testing.

Average survival can range from less than a year for very advanced and aggressive types – such as glioblastomas – or to about five years for different types that are slower growing.

Kennedy’s treatment will be determined after more testing, but a combination of radiation and chemotherapy is the usual course of action.

The good news is that these articles have also reported Kennedy as being in good spirits and mobile in the hospital.

So, now, here’s to sending prayers to Kennedy and his family.

UPDATE: For more information about brain tumors and their symptoms, visit Marijke Durning’s  Can My Headaches Mean I Have A Brain Tumor?

Image: Newscom

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Update: Doctors Say Sen. Kennedy Has A Brain Tumor