Dr. B, Isaiah's Pediatric Oncologist called earlier this evening and told us the sample of spinal fluid came back with no cancer cells present. This means that the cancer was only confined to the eye and is not considered metastatic - present in the body and able to spread. Isaiah will start chemo on Monday and Tuesday.
Some may ask why he needs chemotherapy if the cancer is out of him and the spinal fluid showed no cancer cells present ... because there may be a few cells that could grow and cause more deadly forms of cancer elsewhere (brain, spinal cord, bones). Children diagnosed with Isaiah's form and stage of retinoblastoma 20 years ago were usually just treated with enucleation. Unfortanately about 40% of these children died within 5 years due to other forms of cancer caused by retinoblastoma cells being left in the body.
We're taking the best route of modern medicine to ensure Isaiah will be cured and live a long and happy life. Please read my post below from our trips to Duke this past Monday & Tuesday.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment