Purgatory….

Max’s 12mo scans came back with some potentially bad news. The tumor seems to have grown and is displaying some metabolic activity.   Max has been through several scans and tests these past few weeks and over the next few weeks he will go through more.  With each round of tests we continue to raise our hopes for good news but so far it hasn’t come.  It’s hard to believe or accept that the cancer is back, it’s just too difficult to go there.  The science and technology is not exact, there is room for error.  Denial or hope?

This week the tumor board, surgeon and oncologists met. If the tumor is active,  Max’s oncologist recommends a potentially risky tumor removal, a year of very aggressive chemo followed by another year of maintenance chemo.  This plan is filled with risks, a poor quality of life and a poor prognosis of success.  

Next week Max will undergo a bone marrow aspiration to see if any cancer is in his bones.  Mark and I will be meeting with the local surgeon to hear his plan if the tumor is active.   In two weeks we will repeat the MRI and PET scan for a more definitive answer on tumor activity.    If the cancer is back, Dr Kim will contact St. Judes for information on clinical trials and a possible experimental cancer vaccination.  She will also explore using a gamma knife for noninvasive tumor removal and to MD Anderson about surgical options.  Nothing will happen immediately.  We are increasing the health and supplement plan, hoping that his body will take charge, hoping for a miracle.

Today, we have a super fun, happy and energetic kid.    He melts my heart when he smiles, he is so cuddly and loving, he is such a great kid.