Thursday, January 3, 2008

Cohen's treatment plan

I just realized that I never posted Cohen's treatment plan. Cohen will have 7 rounds of chemotherapy. Each three weeks apart anywhere from 2 to 5 days. They will do surgery to remove the tumor either before or after his 5th round of chemo. They collected his stem cells because for chemo rounds 6 & 7 they are going to give him high dose chemo and then give him stem cell transplants. Round 6 with be 7 days of chemo. He will then be given the stem cell transplant. Round 7 will be 6 days of chemo then the stem cell transplant. He will need to stay in the hospital 3 to 4 weeks each time. They will be done 6 weeks apart (from day one of chemo.) The high dose chemo kills off the bone marrow's ability to reproduce cells, and without giving him the stem cell transplants he would never reproduce cells. It takes an average of 12 days (each time) before the bone marrow recovers. He will receive blood and platelet transfusions during these rounds. 30 days after the 7th round of chemo they will do focal irradiation to the area of the tumor. That will be one to two weeks of daily therapy. After completion of all of the therapies he will be given cis-retinoic acid therapy orally for two weeks on and two weeks off for six months. They will also give him other medication to help his body's ability to fight the neuroblastoma. He will have checkups to monitor the neuroblastoma and then go from there.
Cohen starts round 4 on Tuesday. He will receive chemo for 3 days. Thanks again for all of your support and prayers.

5 comments:

Christina said...

Thanks for the updates. I hope all goes well with the treatments. I admire your strength and care you show for your precious children.

Best Wishes,
Christina Davis
(IHH member)

Melissa said...

Wow! You are going to be a pro! I can't believe all the little guy has to go through. I hope it is successful. Will they use stem cells from anyone else, or only his own? We donated our kids' Unbilical cord blood (stem cells)and was just curious. Good Luck!

Mp said...

Crazy Crazy Crazy sounds like you'll be very busy. I had no idea that it was going to take so many chemo treatments. I hope they get it all!!!

Hugs,
Mike

Ashley said...

Melissa-
They will just use his own. They needed 10 million and were able to get 22 million. Which is really good because we don't have to worry about his body rejecting it.

carolyn q said...

I don't know how you keep it all straight? I was also shocked that it would require so many chemo treatments. I am sorry this is happening to Cohen, it makes my heart sink. He is one lucky boy to have a mom like you. You are amazing and in those moments when you think you can't handle it, please know you are not alone and that we are here for you.
Hugs,
Carolyn


 
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