TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS
Our last trip went very well and again Kristin cleared the high dose methotrexate like a pro. Although she will continue to receive methotrexate in the future, she does not need to have the high dose methotrexate again. We are glad to say good by to that bad boy. Kristin developed an unusual side effect that is not seen too often. After the second dose, and we returned home, she said the bottom of her feet hurt. In fact, she walked on her tip toes for several days until the pain subsided. Shortly thereafter, huge blisters erupted on the heels of her feet (huge, think Texas!) and her thumb. They were filled with fluid and very painful! I have noticed a pattern in that after each cycle of high dose mtx, there seems to the pain, new blisters bubbling up underneath the old ones, peeling and then it is repeated over a period of two weeks. Hopefully we have seen the last of them. Her feet have really taken a beating and I think it is because our feet have poorer circulation. Unfortunately it is sandal time and she hates all the war wounds visible.
We are just about done with Interim Maintenance 1. This is the 63 day course of chemo that we have recently been on and it ended on June 1. Yipee! this means that Kristin has endured approximately 149 days of chemo therapy. I often have people ask, " Is that it?, Are you finished?" Sadly, no. To date we have completed the following:
1. Induction (29 days)
2. Consolidation (57 days)
3. Interim Maintenance 1 (63 days)
We have the following to complete:
4.Delayed Intensification 1 (57 days) scheduled to begin on June 9th at Renown
5.Interim Maintenance 2 (56 days)
6. Delayed Intensification 2 (57 days)
7.Maintenance (84 day cycles repeated until one year after beginning maintenance, approx. April 2010)
We do not have to go back to Oakland until the beginning of July. We will be able to go to Renown for much of the upcoming chemo. We are so glad. There are often a few days to a week of waiting to move on until Kristin's counts have recovered. (some meds cause her counts to drop slightly while others cause dramatic drops.) For example: ANC (absolute neutrophil count) must be greater than 750 and platelets must be greater than 75,000.
Add this all up and that is 403 days to wipe out ALL forever. We were told plan on 2 1/2 years in treatment. Yes, she will go to college on chemo, but she will not be in the intensive phase. A high price but well worth it! Dr. Raphael said,"We are hitting her with everything we've got!" no kidding...... People always ask "why does it take so long?" Keep in mind that in the 1960's leukemia was described in medical texts as "incurable." Curing ALL is one of modern medicine's greatest achievements and Kristin is a recipient of that miracle. In a nutshell it takes that long to completely wipe out all leukemic cells when treating ALL. This is not the same for all types of leukemia and obviously other cancers, each one calls for different protocol.
Lastly, Darren and I are continually humbled by the outpouring of support, prayers and compassion that has been extended to Kristin. Please continue to pray for her and the many other children in the fight against childhood cancer. We love you all!
We are just about done with Interim Maintenance 1. This is the 63 day course of chemo that we have recently been on and it ended on June 1. Yipee! this means that Kristin has endured approximately 149 days of chemo therapy. I often have people ask, " Is that it?, Are you finished?" Sadly, no. To date we have completed the following:
1. Induction (29 days)
2. Consolidation (57 days)
3. Interim Maintenance 1 (63 days)
We have the following to complete:
4.Delayed Intensification 1 (57 days) scheduled to begin on June 9th at Renown
5.Interim Maintenance 2 (56 days)
6. Delayed Intensification 2 (57 days)
7.Maintenance (84 day cycles repeated until one year after beginning maintenance, approx. April 2010)
We do not have to go back to Oakland until the beginning of July. We will be able to go to Renown for much of the upcoming chemo. We are so glad. There are often a few days to a week of waiting to move on until Kristin's counts have recovered. (some meds cause her counts to drop slightly while others cause dramatic drops.) For example: ANC (absolute neutrophil count) must be greater than 750 and platelets must be greater than 75,000.
Add this all up and that is 403 days to wipe out ALL forever. We were told plan on 2 1/2 years in treatment. Yes, she will go to college on chemo, but she will not be in the intensive phase. A high price but well worth it! Dr. Raphael said,"We are hitting her with everything we've got!" no kidding...... People always ask "why does it take so long?" Keep in mind that in the 1960's leukemia was described in medical texts as "incurable." Curing ALL is one of modern medicine's greatest achievements and Kristin is a recipient of that miracle. In a nutshell it takes that long to completely wipe out all leukemic cells when treating ALL. This is not the same for all types of leukemia and obviously other cancers, each one calls for different protocol.
Lastly, Darren and I are continually humbled by the outpouring of support, prayers and compassion that has been extended to Kristin. Please continue to pray for her and the many other children in the fight against childhood cancer. We love you all!
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