Ted Kennedy Leaves Hospital; Won't Retire from Senate

Sen. Ted Kennedy checked out of the Boston hospital today, where just yesterday he was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor known as a malignant glioma. Doctors were reportedly pleased with his remarkably quick recovery from the brain biopsy that was performed yesterday. The Senator was taken to the hospital over the weekend after suffering a seizure at the family compound in Hyannisport, which was initially reported as a stroke.

Doctors say that the prognosis for malignant glioma, the term for a cancerous tumor that originates in the brain rather than spreading from elsewhere, is bleak. This type of cancer is treated with the hope of putting it into remission, but it is not curable. Half of patients diagnosed with malignant glioma die within a year, with median survival rates in the three to five year range. Surgery is often attempted in order to remove the tumor and limit its effect on the patient's quality of life and cognitive abilities, but it is not usually possible to get all of the cancerous cells, making it likely that the tumor will grow back. Doctors acknowledge that the location of the malignant glioma where Kennedy's is located, on the left parietal lobe could eventually effect speech and other left-brain funtions.

Despite the dreary prognosis for malignant glioma, Kennedy has vowed to fight the cancer and is still planning on competing this weekend in the annual sailing race from Cape Cod to Nantucket known as the Figawi. He has also ordered his staff back to work, signaling that his Senate seat won't be vacated in the immediate future. Details of his treatment plan have yet to be made public, but options may include chemotherapy and radiation.

Kennedy's more than 40 year career in the Senate has seen many achievements on his part in pension, health care and immigration legislation. He just won re-election to the Senate in 2006, meaning that his term won't be up until 2012. If Kennedy does vacate his seat before then Massachusetts law requires a special election 145 to 160 days later.