The next phase

We had Abbie's oncology appointment yesterday, and they told us that they do not really expect chemotherapy to shrink the tumor at this point. We are starting a new protocol, but this is really just to buy time before we have to move to radiation. The danger of radiation is much higher in children under 3, so if we can get through this next year and a half without the tumor growing it would be best.

So she's be getting a new chemo every day for five days, and then we'll have a 28 day reprieve. Then five days of chemo again, etc. After the second round, we'll get another MRI to see if the tumor has spread. If it hasn't, then they'll put her on a regimen where she will be getting chemo every day - the initial stronger medication layered with other, less-intense, medication. If the tumor HAS grown, though, we will need to move straight to radiation regardless of her age.

The biggest danger with this chemo is her platelet count -- so we'll be monitoring that closely. And, of course, we are worried about the tumor continuing to grow. Please pray that the tumor stops growing with this new medication -- we just need to squeak through these next 18 months. I am resigned to the need for radiation, but the longer we can hold it off, the better.

Regardless of when she gets it, though, it will probably not happen here. Because of her age, they recommend that we take her to Boston, where they have some super-new radiation thing that will affect less surrounding tissue. They are guessing that it will take about 6 weeeks, so, uh, that will be an interesting juggling act. I guess we'll just temporarily move to Boston? I don't know. But I guess that's really the least of our problems right now.