WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, a leading Democrat and patriarch of a prominent U.S. political dynasty, said he would undergo surgery on Monday for treatment of a brain tumour diagnosed last month.
Kennedy, 76, said in a statement he would have "targeted"surgery on Monday at Duke University Medical Centre in Durham,North Carolina, followed by chemotherapy and radiation atMassachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Surgery was to start at about 9 a.m. EDT (2:00 p.m. Britishtime) and was expected to last about six hours, media reportssaid. Kennedy, the youngest brother of assassinated U.S.President John F. Kennedy, said he expected to be hospitalizedat Duke for about a week.
Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour calleda glioma, a type of tumour that usually kills within threeyears, after suffering a seizure on May 17 at his familyvacation compound at Hyannisport in his home state ofMassachusetts.
Kennedy, who has been a senator for 46 years, is one of themost respected figures in U.S. politics and news of hiscondition prompted a wave of shock and sympathy in Washington.
"I am deeply grateful to the people of Massachusetts and tomy friends, colleagues and so many others across the countryand around the world who have expressed their support and goodwishes as I tackle this new and unexpected health challenge,"Kennedy said.
He said the surgery would be performed by Dr. AllanFriedman, chief of neurosurgery at Duke.
"After completing treatment, I look forward to returning tothe United States Senate and to doing everything I can to helpelect Barack Obama as our next president," said Kennedy, whountil the diagnosis had actively campaigned for Obama in hisbid to win the Democratic nomination.
Kennedy has been a vocal critic of Republican PresidentGeorge W. Bush, particularly on his Iraq war, tax cuts for thewealthy and conservative nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court whohe fears will push the high court to the right.
Kennedy came to the Senate in November 1962 to fill a seatearlier held by his older brother, then-President John Kennedy.He currently serves as chairman of the Senate Committee onHealth, Education, Labour and Pensions.
