Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy has a malignant brain tumor, his doctors said Tuesday, a challenging health diagnosis for the iconic American political figure, the last surviving of the four famed Kennedy brothers. Malignant gliomas, like Kennedy’s, are the most common type of adult brain cancers, inflicting some 9,000 Americans a year, according to NewsHour.

As a United States senator, Edward Kennedy, has served the people of Massachusetts for more than forty years. But people from all over the world who are familiar with Kennedy’s family legacy are shaken by the news of the brain tumor, according to The New York Times.

More on Brain Tumors:
A medical expert discusses treatment for brain tumors on NewsHour.

The Secret Life of the Brain, a five-part series on PBS, offers a history of the brain, anatomy, illusions, brain scanning, and reveals the fascinating processes involved in brain development across a lifetime.

More on Kennedy’s Family:
Edward Kennedy, known as Ted, was the youngest of nine children, 17 years younger than his brother, President John F. Kennedy. The PBS documentary on American Experience, ‘The Kennedys,’ chronicles the highly political and tragic dynasty of the Kennedy family. Hosted by historian David McCullough, the documentary shows the impact the family has made on America.