Senator Ted Kennedy will be at Duke University Medical Center today to undergo surgery to remove his cancerous brain tumor his office has reported.
Kennedy was diagnosed with a lethal type of brain tumor (malignant glioma) last month. According to
an update from Fox News, Kennedy's office issued a statement saying he would be operated on this morning by Dr. Allan Friedman and will later receive chemotherapy and radiation
The surgery is scheduled for 9 a.m. and is expected to take about six hours.
"I am deeply grateful to the people of Massachusetts and to my friends, colleagues and so many others across the country and around the world who have expressed their support and good wishes as I tackle this new and unexpected health challenge," Kennedy said in the statement. "I am humbled by the outpouring and am strengthened by your prayers and kindness.".
Kennedy expects to take a week of recuperation before seeking further treatments at Massachusetts General Hospital, including starting chemotherapy.
Kennedy sought advice from his doctors and other experts around the U.S. to decide the best course of action, and surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiation was the decided best bet.
As Fox News reports, "Kennedy said he selected a team of neuro-oncologists from Boston's Massachusetts General Hospital and Duke University Medical Center."
