Chelsea,
My heart is breaking for you. I don't want to even imagine the shock of this new
news. I only know to ask GOD to give strength and help in making these awful
decisions. I wish I could say more...I wish I could think of something that
would change things...I will also pray for comfort and peace.
Kelley m/o Collin
-----Original Message-----
From: ATRT@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ATRT@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
marleecaden
Sent: Saturday, January 21, 2006 10:48 AM
To: ATRT@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [ATRT] relapse - ending treatment
I have typed this on microsoft word while waiting for the phoneline
at my aunt's to open up (she has dialup internet), so I apologize
for the copy-pasting.
I'm not sure how to say this...during breakfast this morning, Caden
did fine. Afterwards, she turned an odd shade of purple and her
heartrate began fluctuating wildly. Of course, we called an
ambulance and she was airlifted from our local hospital to the one
we're being treated at (3 ½ hours away).
While doctors and nurses were trying to stablize her, the head of
radiology came in to talk to me. Caden has relapsed. There is a
small spot dead center in her medulla oblongata (a part that is not
being radiated). The adjuvant chemo has failed.
Once her heart rate was a little better, we had a full-body MRI.
There are seven small tumors between C-6 and her coccyx. Five are in
the cord itself, one is in the spinal meninges, and one is in the T-
10 vertebral bone. That makes a total of nine tumors known,
including the remaining primary tumor.
She had an MRI yesterday, and they saw the shadow in her medulla
oblongata, but they did not know what it was, or tell me about it...
they sent it to the head of radiology, who said it's tumor. He says
they are probably ALL bigger than they appear due to the steroids
she's on. He thinks that's why there've been no symptoms until today.
The medulla oblongata tumor is about the size of a half-used pencil
eraser. Four of the spinals are marble-sized, one is a little bit
bigger, and two are flattened half-moon shaped ones cupping her
spinal cord.
They've given us three options: take her home and enjoy what time we
have left, put her in a drug coma until she dies, or try some
extremely aggressive chemo. I know I don't want to put her through
any more treatment, as they are saying it probably will not work and
we won't be able to start it for a few weeks. I am struggling with
the drug coma and just taking her home...she knows something is wrong.
She had no symptoms until today; our last craniospinal MRI was a
little over five weeks ago, and there was nothing on that one. I had
no idea any cancer could grow and spread that fast...
When her heartrate jumps or drops, she gets anxious and fussy and
obviously scared...I don't know how to ease this for her. This is the
only reason I am entertaining the idea of a drug coma, to keep her
fears away and make this easier for her. What do I do? Help me...
A very distraught
Chelsea, Caden, and Marlee
Dx 7/5/05 ATRT, 5 cycles high-dose chemo, 15 days of rads w/
adjuvant chemo...eight new tumors 1/21/06...no treatment options left.
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