Senator Kennedy dies from brain tumor

Senator Kennedy dies from brain tumor
Thu, 27 Aug 2009 06:00:00 -0500

My sincerest thoughts go out to the family of Senator Edward Kennedy who passed away Tuesday night after losing a battle with brain cancer. After spending five decades in Congress, it's hard not to be a little bit amazed by the length of his tenure, no matter what side of the political spectrum you land on.

And whether you agreed with his politics or not, seeing a man so dedicated to his job lose such a public battle with cancer, is tragic. Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor last year.

Brain tumors aren't horribly uncommon in the United States. Cancer.gov says that each year 35,000 people are diagnosed with a new brain tumor. For those diagnosed, treatment options include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, followed by rehabilitation with physical and occupational therapists.

The booklet What You Need to Know About Brain Tumors offers a lot of information on how tumors form, as well as treatment options and follow-up care.

In light of Senator Kennedy's passing, I think it's information worth sharing with with friends and family.

To see more photos of Senator Kennedy, check out the slideshow on the White House blog.