Ted Kennedy to Undergo Brain Surgery Today

Ted Kennedy will undergo brain surgery this morning at Duke University Medical Center to treat his malignant tumor, CNN reports. Afterwards, he will begin chemotherapy, but he doesn’t expect it to sideline him for long. “After completing treatment, I look forward to returning to the United States Senate and to doing everything I can to help elect Barack Obama as our next president,” the senator said in a statement.

The procedure will begin at about 9am, and last 4 to 6 hours. Operating will be Dr. Allan Friedman, an internationally noted tumor and vascular neurosurgeon who performs 90% of Duke’s tumor removals. Left unchecked, Kennedy’s tumor could impair his ability to speak and understand speech, and movement in the right side of his body. (More Ted Kennedy stories.)