Posted on 06/02/2008 12:12:47 PM PDT by james500
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's brain surgery was successful and "accomplished our goals," a doctor at Duke University Medical Center said Monday.
Kennedy was undergoing surgery for his cancerous brain tumor.
Kennedy surgeon Dr. Allan Friedman said Monday his patient was awake during the 3 1/2-hour procedure, and should experience no permanent neurological effects from the surgery.
A spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Democrat says Kennedy spoke with his wife, Vicki, right after surgery. He told her: "I feel like a million bucks. I think I'll do that again tomorrow."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I know, should have mentioned that, was just quoting the general definition of Stage IV. Glioblastoma does not metastasize, it just kills you quickly.
I didn’t realize it was so rare. My best friend’s husband died from this just over a month ago. He had surgery and radiation- from first symptoms to death was 5 months. She is having a hard time, she was expecting him to live much longer- though she admits when the doctors tried to tell her he might go quick she just couldn’t accept it.
After seeing what my friends went through, I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.
McCain. He has been writing his bills for years anyway.”
Perfect! Touche`
I only wish him well. Cancer is a horror.
cutting edge fantasy.
Doctors at New York University Medical Center’s Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery are seeking candidates to participate in Phase II clinical trials of a new cutting-edge personalized brain cancer vaccine.
Dr. Patrick Kelly, the world renowned neurosurgeon who is Professor of Neurosurgery at NYUMC, and Dr. Michael Gruber, the prominent neuro-oncologist who is Clinical Professor at NYUMC, are the first doctors in New York State - and NYUMC is only one of five centers nationwide - to utilize this personalized vaccine. It is created by taking a portion of a patient’s brain tumor and combining it with dendritic white blood cells. Once the vaccine is injected intra-dermally, it creates an immune reaction resulting in the remaining cancer cells being killed. If successful, the patient’s survival rate may increase over 50%.
In fact, in the initial study of this vaccine (conducted at UCLA), two-thirds of the patients were still alive after two years, compared to one-third who only received standard treatment. Moreover, two-fifths of the vaccine-treated patients who survived two years showed no evidence of the disease.
Patients who are candidates for the Phase II trial at NYUMC must be newly-diagnosed, and have not had any other treatment, including chemotherapy and/or radiation. They will first undergo a minimally-invasive procedure to remove the tumor.
There are two main types of brain cancer. Primary brain cancer starts in the brain. Metastatic brain cancer starts somewhere else in the body and moves to the brain. Brain tumors can be benign, with no cancer cells, or malignant, with cancer cells that grow quickly. Brain cancer affects about 29,000 Americans each year. About 13,000 die from a brain tumor a year.
No comment.
I had looked up glioma and according to this wikepedia site, the WHO grading system said stage 4 is a glioblastoma Multiforme (the most common in adults). If I recall they said Kennedy's was a stage 4. Scroll down a ways to see the WHO grading system.
I think you may be confusing grade (aggressiveness of the tumor, related to level of differentiation) with stage (extent of metastasis).
Generally, well-differentiated tumors are slower-growing and more like the original cell type from which the tumor originated, with comparatively slight abnormalities. Poorly- or undifferentiated tumors consist of tissue that looks nothing like normal tissue. High-grade tumors DO tend, as a general rule, to spread more quickly. In the case of gliomas, however, the cells have a preference for invasion within their native neural tissues. Thus, it is a fast-growing and lethal disease with little risk of spread beyond the nervous system.
Leni
Kennedy’d be allergic.
I’m very sorry to hear of it, but it sounds like your dad is beating the odds so far.
I wish you both the best.
Leni
I don’t want to sound uncharitable, but Ted is getting a second chance—to reflect on his life and (hopefully) repent of the murders he’s caused, directly and indirectly. God is merciful. Ted needs to prepare himself to meet His Maker. I don’t agree with his politics at all, but I pray for his salvation nonetheless.
We haven’t seen that Skerry Dweeb in weeks! If Teddy doesn’t tell him what to say, Terayza is still eating Gin soaked raisins and Obambi’s busy polishing off a “catholic reverend” in Chicago.
Teddy goes, Kerry’s Toast.
Teddy is Edgar Bergen to Kerry’s “Charlie McCarthy”.
GO JIM BEATTY!!
THIS is your MOMENT!
By grade
Gliomas are further categorized according to their grade, which is determined by pathologic evaluation of the tumor.
Low-grade brain glioma in a 28 year-old male. (Taken on 2007-07-10)Low-grade gliomas are well-differentiated (not anaplastic); these are benign and portend a better prognosis for the patient.
High-grade gliomas are undifferentiated or anaplastic; these are malignant and carry a worse prognosis.
Of numerous grading systems in use, the most common is the World Health Organization (WHO) grading system for astrocytoma. The WHO system assigns a grade from 1 to 4, with 1 being the least aggressive and 4 being the most aggressive. Various types of astrocytomas are given corresponding WHO grades.
WHO grading system for astrocytomas
WHO Grade 1 — e.g., pilocytic astrocytoma
WHO Grade 2 — e.g., diffuse or low-grade astrocytoma
WHO Grade 3 — e.g., anaplastic (malignant) astrocytoma
WHO Grade 4 — glioblastoma multiforme (most common glioma in adults) The prognosis is the worst for grade 4 gliomas, with an average survival time of 12 months. Overall, few patients survive beyond 3 years.
After reading this again.I don't understand where my confusion is. Weren't we told Kennedy had a glioma in his brain and that it was grade 4 which is glioblastoma multiforme?
Sad, but true.
I think we’ll lose three senators this year—Kennedy, Specter, and Byrd.
I wonder what the average age is in the Senate? Must be around 65.
Oh well, better luck next time.
the WHO grading system said stage 4 is a glioblastoma Multiforme (the most common in adults).
It's just a technicality, but stage and grade are two different ideas in oncology, albeit often linked i.e. high-grade tumors tend to reach stage IV quickly. Not to be confused with the staging heard commonly in relation to more common types of cancer, which has nothing to do with the grade or cell type.
Anyway, Kennedy's situation is a serious one.
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