FROM THE BOSTON GLOBE:

Malignant gliomas are a type of brain cancer diagnosed in about 9,000 Americans a year and are the most common type among adults. It's a starting diagnosis: How well patients fare depends on what specific tumor type is discovered.

Average survival can range from less than a year for very advanced and aggressive types -- such as glioblastomas -- to about five years for different types that are slower-growing.

One expert, Dr. Joseph Madsen, a neurosurgeon at Children's Hospital Boston, said the diagnosis was "very sad news."

"High-grade glio-malignancies" such as Senator Kennedy has "are unfortunately the most common kind of brain tumor in this age group, and they have a poor prognosis for long-term survival," he said.

They can also be very debilitating during treatment, Madsen said, and Kennedy's tumor is in an area where it may well eventually affect his speech.


Karen (a Senior Lead Lab Tech) says the Grade 4 types are common in older people and survivals are in the one year range. Most are well along before they are found.

Very tough news indeed.

Spaw