Austin's Game Plan...

Well we finally got to talk to Patel. What a relief it was. The game plan he proposed is as follows: Tomothearpy radiation to the tumor in the orbit of the right eye along with chemo. After he recovers from radiation and chemo then we will surgically remove the tumor near the lung. There is no surgical option for the tumor behind the eye. So we must pray the chemo and radiation gets it. Then we can move on to transplant. But remember all Neuroblastoma must be gone to get to transplant. We have some long months ahead.

At first when we were taken back to and exam room, Austin saw a TV in the rooms across the hall (the treatment rooms)he immediately ran in there. I tried dragging him out of there but Patel said, no that is okay we will go in there to him. He said he was working on the treatment plan for Austin and would know everything today. He knew that radiation was in the works for the eye tumor and surgery for the chest tumor. But when was the question. He was trying to decide to do chemo when his counts recovered to make sure we stayed on top of everything while the plan was being made. While we were there he got a call from Dr. Eng over at CTRC, he said he could have him come in Monday at CTRC to start the planning of radiation and start radiation next week. So that is when Patel decided to do the chemo with the radiation. So next week will be a busy one. I know the questions that will be coming in will be how long will he do the radiation but I won't know more about that stuff until after speaking with Dr. Eng. I am going to find out Friday what type of chemo Patel plans on giving him. We know what to expect over at CTRC. I am sure Monday they will sedate him, do CT scans, and make his mold for radiation. I know this time they will probably use a face mask to make sure he doesn't move during treatment. Last time they didn't use one, I think it was because he was only having his stomach done.

I feel good about this treatment and am ready to get started. I think the new year will bring us a positive outcome in Austin's treatment.

Today Austin got Platelets, they were down to 30. His white count has come up slowly. He is still on the Neupogen shot and he goes back Friday at 9 for blood drawn. His red cells are holing their own at 13. ANC was 600. Patel went ahead and put him on a bunch of antibiotics for his finger to be on the safe side. So we will start that tonight too. When we went to get platelets at the clinic, as we walked in Austin's nurse "D" was standing at the nurses station, she saw him bent down and put her arms out for a hug. Austin hesitated for a minute but then started walking pretty fast toward her and gave her a hug. He doesn't typically do this to nurses but he sure knows that she loves him and he loves her too!!

Elizabeth