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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Kennedy to undergo brain surgery | Kennedy to undergo brain surgery |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| US Senator Edward Kennedy is due to undergo surgery for a brain tumour, his office has said in a statement. | |
| The senator for Massachusetts, 76, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour last month following a seizure. | The senator for Massachusetts, 76, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour last month following a seizure. |
| The six-hour operation is to take place at Duke University Medical Center, and Mr Kennedy will start chemotherapy treatment next week. | |
| The youngest brother of assassinated President John F Kennedy is one of the best-known US Democratic politicians. | The youngest brother of assassinated President John F Kennedy is one of the best-known US Democratic politicians. |
| In his statement, Mr Kennedy said he and his wife had consulted doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Boston, and experts around the country. | |
| As a result, they had "decided that the best course of action for my brain tumour is targeted surgery followed by chemotherapy and brain surgery", he said. | As a result, they had "decided that the best course of action for my brain tumour is targeted surgery followed by chemotherapy and brain surgery", he said. |
| Doctors diagnosed a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe after Mr Kennedy was admitted to hospital in mid-May. | Doctors diagnosed a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe after Mr Kennedy was admitted to hospital in mid-May. |
| Mr Kennedy added: "After completing treatment, I look forward to returning to the United States Senate and to doing everything I can to help elect Barack Obama president." | Mr Kennedy added: "After completing treatment, I look forward to returning to the United States Senate and to doing everything I can to help elect Barack Obama president." |
| The second longest-serving member of the Senate, Mr Kennedy has been an active supporter of Senator Obama in his fight to be the Democratic choice to run for US president. | The second longest-serving member of the Senate, Mr Kennedy has been an active supporter of Senator Obama in his fight to be the Democratic choice to run for US president. |
| 'Humbled' | 'Humbled' |
| Mr Kennedy is expected to recuperate in hospital for a week after the operation, which is being performed by the chief of neurosurgery at Duke University Medical Center, in North Carolina. | |
| EDWARD MOORE KENNEDY 1932 Born, youngest of nine siblings1962 Becomes country's youngest senator1963, 1968 Brothers President John F Kennedy and Senator Robert F Kennedy both assassinated1969 "Chappaquiddick incident" - Kennedy flees scene after road crash in which his young female passenger dies1980 Runs unsuccessfully for Democratic nomination against sitting President Jimmy Carter Profile: 'Teddy' Kennedy | EDWARD MOORE KENNEDY 1932 Born, youngest of nine siblings1962 Becomes country's youngest senator1963, 1968 Brothers President John F Kennedy and Senator Robert F Kennedy both assassinated1969 "Chappaquiddick incident" - Kennedy flees scene after road crash in which his young female passenger dies1980 Runs unsuccessfully for Democratic nomination against sitting President Jimmy Carter Profile: 'Teddy' Kennedy |
| He will then undergo radiation treatment and chemotherapy at Massachusetts General Hospital. | He will then undergo radiation treatment and chemotherapy at Massachusetts General Hospital. |
| In his statement, the senator said he was "deeply grateful" to the people of Massachusetts and friends and colleagues for their support. | In his statement, the senator said he was "deeply grateful" to the people of Massachusetts and friends and colleagues for their support. |
| "I am humbled by the outpouring and am strengthened by your prayers and kindness," he said. | "I am humbled by the outpouring and am strengthened by your prayers and kindness," he said. |
| Mr Kennedy was first elected senator for Massachusetts in November 1962 - shortly after turning the requisite 30 years of age - to replace his brother, who had been elected president in 1960. | Mr Kennedy was first elected senator for Massachusetts in November 1962 - shortly after turning the requisite 30 years of age - to replace his brother, who had been elected president in 1960. |
| Since then he has been re-elected seven times. | Since then he has been re-elected seven times. |
| Powerful clan | Powerful clan |
| Born into a rich and powerful Irish-American Catholic family, the son of Joseph Kennedy, Edward "Teddy" Kennedy became the head of the clan after the deaths of his three elder brothers. | Born into a rich and powerful Irish-American Catholic family, the son of Joseph Kennedy, Edward "Teddy" Kennedy became the head of the clan after the deaths of his three elder brothers. |
| The eldest, Joseph Jr, was killed while flying a bomber during World War II. | The eldest, Joseph Jr, was killed while flying a bomber during World War II. |
| John was assassinated while president in 1963, and Robert was shot dead while running for president in 1968. | John was assassinated while president in 1963, and Robert was shot dead while running for president in 1968. |
| Edward, or Teddy, as he is known, ran against sitting President Jimmy Carter in 1980, but failed, after struggling to put the infamous "Chappaquiddick incident" behind him. | Edward, or Teddy, as he is known, ran against sitting President Jimmy Carter in 1980, but failed, after struggling to put the infamous "Chappaquiddick incident" behind him. |
| He had, in 1969, crashed a car off a bridge, and while he escaped, his passenger - Mary Jo Kopechne, aged 28 - drowned in the water below. He did not report the incident to police for more than eight hours. | |
| He later pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and received a suspended two-month prison sentence. | He later pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and received a suspended two-month prison sentence. |
| Mr Kennedy is the father of Congressman Patrick J Kennedy. |