We just had a wonderful chat with Alan's primary oncologist and feel a bit better. First off, the results from his bone scan today show no sign of cancer, so that's one more strike against metastasizing cancer. Once we get an all-clear from the bone marrow biopsy tomorrow we can put the spectre metastasizing cancer and a Stage 4 sarcoma behind us.
His doctor gave us some more details. The site of origin was in his iliacus muscle (neither a favourable nor an unfavourable site - right down the middle in terms of risk factor.) There are only 150 cases a year of Rhabdomyosarcoma in children Alan's age. The 10 cm tumour in Alan is made up of a billion cells. At that size, it is a Stage 3 tumour. By comparison, a Stage 2 tumour would be about 5 cm.
We start chemotherapy on Friday, which will continue for 5 days. We anticipate that Alan will be staying in the hospital for the three weeks following to monitor his recovery until the second course of chemotherapy.
In the meantime, we appreciate all the prayers, kind thoughts and support that have come our way. We are truly grateful.
Showing posts with label "Day 03". Show all posts
Showing posts with label "Day 03". Show all posts
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Diagnosis
We have a diagnosis now, and it isn't good news though it could (and might) be worse. Alan has Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma, a very rare form of cancer (about 3% of childhood cancers). This is the more treatable form of Rhabdomyosarcoma, so we are greatful for that. The site of the tumour also makes the chances of success more favourable, so we are grateful for that as well.
He goes into surgery tomorrow morning to get a medical port (for future treatment and evaluation) and a bone marrow biopsy. The results of tomorrow's biopsy and today's bone scan will tell us whether or not the cancer has metastasized, which would be even more dire news. Because the fairly normal results of the blood tests Monday night and his general liveliness, we are fairly encouraged this is not the case. The recent tests have also shown that his lungs, liver and brain are clear. We won't know for sure until tomorrow at the earliest though.
Treatment will be a combination of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.
Articles on rhabdomyosarcoma from Wikipedia, the Sarcoma Learning Center, and St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.
He goes into surgery tomorrow morning to get a medical port (for future treatment and evaluation) and a bone marrow biopsy. The results of tomorrow's biopsy and today's bone scan will tell us whether or not the cancer has metastasized, which would be even more dire news. Because the fairly normal results of the blood tests Monday night and his general liveliness, we are fairly encouraged this is not the case. The recent tests have also shown that his lungs, liver and brain are clear. We won't know for sure until tomorrow at the earliest though.
Treatment will be a combination of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.
Articles on rhabdomyosarcoma from Wikipedia, the Sarcoma Learning Center, and St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.
We've got a fighter
Even with a destroyed right hip bone and a heavy splint on his left hand, Alan is determined to maintain his reputation as a monkey. He played a vigorous game of "I'm laughing with you" with visitors last night, and this morning he was all over the toys that the hospital's volunteer grandmother brought for him.
Our boys love anything fishy, so it's no surprise that Alan stood up to check out this aquarium.
With a mat on the floor, Alan tried to stand and walk, played with a toy piano, and crawled all over Mount Daddy. With all this activity, he's nice and tired. Hopefully, this will mean he'll lie still for the bone scan this afternoon.
Our boys love anything fishy, so it's no surprise that Alan stood up to check out this aquarium.
With a mat on the floor, Alan tried to stand and walk, played with a toy piano, and crawled all over Mount Daddy. With all this activity, he's nice and tired. Hopefully, this will mean he'll lie still for the bone scan this afternoon.
Some initial results
I met Alan's primary oncologist this morning and he gave us a preliminary progress report on the test results. The initial examination of the biopsy showed that the tumour is made up mostly of muscle and connective tissue, falling into the class of small blue round cell tumours. They will run immunostaining tests next to further narrow down the specific type of tumour. This will take another day or so, since they will be sending the slides to several different pathologists to independently determine the type of tumour. Apparently, the differences between the tumours in that class are very subtle, so they want to be sure.
Intellectually, we know that an accurate diagnosis is better than a fast one, but the primal mama and papa bears in us are saying "Kill!"
The more encouraging news is that because of Alan's age, his hip bone is made up mostly of cartilage, so when this tumour is beat, there is a good chance the bone will grow back. The oncology doc will take over all of Alan's health care for now - no more taking him to the primary care pediatrician, pediatric GI, or ER. One stop health care shopping - good thing we both really like him! As he says, "Charge on!" - we're stopping at nothing less than a cure.
Intellectually, we know that an accurate diagnosis is better than a fast one, but the primal mama and papa bears in us are saying "Kill!"
The more encouraging news is that because of Alan's age, his hip bone is made up mostly of cartilage, so when this tumour is beat, there is a good chance the bone will grow back. The oncology doc will take over all of Alan's health care for now - no more taking him to the primary care pediatrician, pediatric GI, or ER. One stop health care shopping - good thing we both really like him! As he says, "Charge on!" - we're stopping at nothing less than a cure.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)