Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. Kennedy was working on a major cancer bill when doctors found his brain tumor. Now his personal battle with cancer puts a new focus on his 40-year commitment to fighting cancer in the United States. (AP Photo/J.Scott Applewhite, File)
Senator Ted Kennedy Being Treated for Brain Cancer

United States Senator Edward (Ted) Kennedy is recovering from brain surgery.

Doctors operated on Kennedy on June 2 to remove a tumor. It was found to be cancer.

Ted Kennedy, 76, had a seizure on May 17. He was taken to a Boston hospital. Doctors there found the tumor.

Kennedy is a Democrat from Massachusetts He was elected to the Senate in 1962. At the time, he was the nation’s youngest senator. He filled a seat left by his brother, John Kennedy, who became President in 1960.

Ted Kennedy is known as the “lion of liberalism.” He is well known in the Senate as someone who can get things done.

He has been re-elected to the Senate seven times. Kennedy is the second-longest serving Senator. Robert Byrd of West Virginia is the longest serving Senator.

Went sailing after returning home
Kennedy returned to his home in Cape Cod after surgery. He went sailing with his wife Victoria.

The surgery lasted more than three hours. Kennedy will now get treatment. Doctors will treat him with medicine and radiation.

Doctors find the same kind of cancer that Kennedy has in about 9,000 Americans each year. About half of all those patients die within one year.

'There has been progress in treating this kind of cancer. New treatments give patients a chance to live longer.
Supports Obama for president

Kennedy backed Senator Barack Obama earlier this year for the Democratic spot for president. Obama won and is running against John McCain. McCain is a Republican.

Kennedy is looking forward to working with Obama on laws to bring health coverage to all Americans.

“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,” Kennedy said.

Ran for president in 1980
Kennedy ran for president in 1980 against President Jimmy Carter. Carter also is a Democrat.

He lost in the primary election against Carter. Ronald Reagan then beat Carter to become president.

Kennedy is the father of Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy of Rhode Island.

Kennedy’s brothers John and Robert were both assassinated.