Legendary Duke neurosurgeon Dr. Allan Friedman is scheduled to remove Senator Ted Kennedy's brain tumor this morning, and there's already significant speculation that the lawmaker will undergo experimental therapy in a follow-up treatment. According to a statement, the Duke neurosurgeon will surgically remove the tumor and the senator will undergo radiation and chemotherapy to combat the glioblastoma. About half of all glioblastoma patients die within a year of surgery. Median survival time is 12 to 15 months.
Kennedy, though, is in the hands of the countries best neuro-oncologists. In addition to the chemo drug Temodar, Kennedy may be treated with Avastin. While approved for other cancers, using Avastin to starve the tumor of blood is still only in the experimental stage for brain tumors.
- read the AP report