Not Good News
Category: Life
It's now been almost three weeks since the results of Darrel's tests came
back. While his overall appearance and energy levels seemed more or less
returning to normal, the latest scans showed the battle going on inside his
body was not going as well. The areas that they had been monitoring were not
only still there, but had almost doubled in size since the December tests. The
cancer was actively growing, and though they may be able to slow it down, it
was not going to be stopped...ever! You can not believe the shock and almost
every other emotion that this news caused. As if your son having cancer wasn't
bad enough, being told that there was no longer anything else that could be
done about it .....!
From the beginning, Sick Kids had told us that they only go through the
entire process (chemo,surgery,bone marrow transplant, and radiation) once.
These things had proven unsuccessful, and now his treatments would revolve
around "Quality of Life" issues. We could drive him down to Toronto everyday
or outpatient chemo, or give him a newer pill form of chemo at home. Since
Darrel lost one kidney during the operation to remove the tumor, and the fact
that the transplant wasn't that long ago, he would not have been able to get a
full dose of regular chemo anyways, so there didn't seem to be much sense in
subjecting him to almost an entire day away from home for a short procedure.
Most kids won't take anything in a pill form, but Darrel actually prefers them,
and refuses liquid medicines, so adding one or two more pills to his daily
cocktail of them was the easier choice by far. If successful, and they slow
down further growth, they feel he has 5 to 10 years, barring any other new
complications. The opposite outcome is obvious, and not pleasant to say the
least.
With modern medical science having thrown up it's collective arms in
defeat, Rebecca has turned to the Internet for any other possible avenues to
investigate. There are countless of so-called "cures" and "miracle drugs" out
there. Of course, on site signs praises about each one, and the next slashes
the previous one, but says its product can deleiver on its claims. In the
past, we have already tried Noni Juice, which Darrel would drink (I tried it
too, can' blame him), Ojibwa Herbal Extracts (made him even mor sick to his
stomach). Some have suggested a sugar/glucose based plan, but that seems
unrealistic to me, and the DCA (dichloroacetate) is only in early trials for
cancer treatments. We have started him on Phytoplanktons, which are a special
kind of sea-weed based natural medicine. We have NOTHING to lose by trying,
and Darrel has EVERYTHING to gain if it truly does work.
He now has to get his blood counts checked again twice a week, but at least
that can be done at a hospital closer to home. While he has appetite has
decreased somewhat, not much else noticeable has changed so far. I think Kira
knows something had happened, as the special treatment in regards to all things
Darrel is beginning once more. Until there is officially something more
factual and urgent, the kids don't need to be burdened with all this.
Hopefully that won't need to happen for a very long time.
Category: Life
It's now been almost three weeks since the results of Darrel's tests came
back. While his overall appearance and energy levels seemed more or less
returning to normal, the latest scans showed the battle going on inside his
body was not going as well. The areas that they had been monitoring were not
only still there, but had almost doubled in size since the December tests. The
cancer was actively growing, and though they may be able to slow it down, it
was not going to be stopped...ever! You can not believe the shock and almost
every other emotion that this news caused. As if your son having cancer wasn't
bad enough, being told that there was no longer anything else that could be
done about it .....!
From the beginning, Sick Kids had told us that they only go through the
entire process (chemo,surgery,bone marrow transplant, and radiation) once.
These things had proven unsuccessful, and now his treatments would revolve
around "Quality of Life" issues. We could drive him down to Toronto everyday
or outpatient chemo, or give him a newer pill form of chemo at home. Since
Darrel lost one kidney during the operation to remove the tumor, and the fact
that the transplant wasn't that long ago, he would not have been able to get a
full dose of regular chemo anyways, so there didn't seem to be much sense in
subjecting him to almost an entire day away from home for a short procedure.
Most kids won't take anything in a pill form, but Darrel actually prefers them,
and refuses liquid medicines, so adding one or two more pills to his daily
cocktail of them was the easier choice by far. If successful, and they slow
down further growth, they feel he has 5 to 10 years, barring any other new
complications. The opposite outcome is obvious, and not pleasant to say the
least.
With modern medical science having thrown up it's collective arms in
defeat, Rebecca has turned to the Internet for any other possible avenues to
investigate. There are countless of so-called "cures" and "miracle drugs" out
there. Of course, on site signs praises about each one, and the next slashes
the previous one, but says its product can deleiver on its claims. In the
past, we have already tried Noni Juice, which Darrel would drink (I tried it
too, can' blame him), Ojibwa Herbal Extracts (made him even mor sick to his
stomach). Some have suggested a sugar/glucose based plan, but that seems
unrealistic to me, and the DCA (dichloroacetate) is only in early trials for
cancer treatments. We have started him on Phytoplanktons, which are a special
kind of sea-weed based natural medicine. We have NOTHING to lose by trying,
and Darrel has EVERYTHING to gain if it truly does work.
He now has to get his blood counts checked again twice a week, but at least
that can be done at a hospital closer to home. While he has appetite has
decreased somewhat, not much else noticeable has changed so far. I think Kira
knows something had happened, as the special treatment in regards to all things
Darrel is beginning once more. Until there is officially something more
factual and urgent, the kids don't need to be burdened with all this.
Hopefully that won't need to happen for a very long time.
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