Ted Kennedy battles for life as brain tumour found
Sen Ted Kennedy: treatment will be decided on after more tests and analysis
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Wednesday May 21 2008
Tributes from shocked colleagues and adversaries poured in last night after it was disclosed that Senator Edward 'Ted' Kennedy, the elder statesman of America's fabled political dynasty, is suffering from a malignant brain tumour.
Doctors treating him after he suffered a seizure at the weekend announced yesterday that a biopsy had shown a form of cancer known as a glioma in the left side of his brain. The prognosis for one of the most influential figures in US politics appears gloomy.
The 76-year-old Democratic senator has been in hospital in Boston since Saturday, when he was airlifted from the family's Cape Cod compound. His wife Victoria and children have been with him each day but have made no public comment.
The diagnosis yesterday came after initial fears that he had suffered a stroke were dispelled. His doctor, Larry Ronan, reported that he was in no immediate danger and was watching a Red Sox baseball game with his family.
But yesterday, Dr Ronan issued a fresh statement revealing the preliminary results of a biopsy, adding: "The usual course of treatment includes combinations of various forms of radiation and chemotherapy."
He said: "Decisions regarding the best course of treatment for Senator Kennedy will be determined after further testing and analysis. Senator Kennedy will remain at Massachusetts General Hospital for the next couple of days according to routine protocol. He remains in good spirits and full of energy."
Washington's political world stopped turning as even long-time opponents held their breath. The White House said that President Bush was "deeply saddened" by the news and that he was praying for him. John Kerry, his fellow Massachusetts senator and a close personal friend, broke the news to colleagues at a weekly lunch.
Later he described Mr Kennedy as a "living legend" who is "determined to fight this" because he wants to continue fighting for "the people of this country".
Harry Reid, the Senate Majority leader, said: "He is a model of public service and truly an American icon. Anyone who knows Ted Kennedy knows he is a fighter and he has risen to every challenge he has faced."
Taoiseach Brian Cowen sent his best wishes on to the senator. The Irish Ambassador to the United States, Michael Collins, contacted the Kennedy family on the Taoiseach's behalf last weekend when the senator's illness first became public.
And the ambassador will now send on a further message from Mr Cowen.
"The Taoiseach expressed his concerns and wished Senator Kennedy best wishes for his recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with him," a spokesman said.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny also expressed his sympathy.
Prognosis
"It was with shock and sadness that I learned of Senator Ted Kennedy's illness and I send him my good wishes, and those of the Fine Gael Party, for the regime of treatment that lies ahead."
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said everyone was concerned about the senator, who had been such a great friend of this country.
"We hope he will overcome this latest illness and return to health," he said.
John McCain, the Republican nominee-elect who has had his own brush with cancer, described Mr Kennedy as the "single most effective member of the Senate".
Prayers
He added: "Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to him."
The second-longest serving member of the Senate was first elected in 1962, taking over the seat vacated by his brother, John, when he was won the presidency.
But death and trauma have never been far from a family that has held much of America in its thrall for half a century. The eldest brother, Joseph, was killed in the Second World War, President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 and Robert Kennedy was shot dead in 1968 during another White House campaign.
Mr Kennedy, who survived a 1964 plane crash in which one of his aides died, saw his career blighted by an incident in 1969, when Mary Jo Kopechne, a passenger in his car, was killed after he drove off a bridge into the channel between Chappaquiddick Island and Martha's Vineyard.
Mr Kennedy, who admitted leaving the scene of an accident and was given a two-month suspended jail sentence, never fully recovered from the incident which contributed to the failure of his own White House run against Jimmy Carter in 1980.
- Tom Baldwin in Washington and Fionnan Sheahan in Dublin
