This isn't a post I've been looking forward to writing. The results came in from the Mayo clinic and they did show the chromosome abnormality that was detected last year when Bela was first diagnosed. It's an abnormality between the 1st and 22nd and is found only in leukemia cells. This was a very sensitive test and some children don't have the "luxury" of having a "marker", such as the chromosome abnormality, to double-check to see if the leukemia cells are 100% gone or not.
At this point what the doctor said is that they don't want to under-interpret or over-interpret, they don't want to under-react nor over-react. It's not necessarily bad news. He's not jumping to treatment. We are in a "wait and see" holding pattern. He's seen other kids with this same abnormality that don't have anything else wrong with them, no signs at all of anything "off".
The plan now is that they will monitor Bela more closely. She will have another bone marrow biopsy within the next two weeks. They will be checking her marrow and blood more frequently now.
Dr. Z did say that he was very surprised because her post-treatment follow-up bone marrow biopsy showed no leukemia, another test they did sometime between January and February showed little to no chance of relapse, and her blood counts have been nothing but great, and improving. Plus, she's had no fevers and is reaching all of her milestones right on time.
This does not mean that the AML will come back but it doesn't mean it won't. Dr. Z has stated to us more than once now that her type of leukemia is very difficult to treat. It is very rare. As I was Googling it today, it was actually very hard to find information on her exact chromosome abnormality. In fact, from what I understood, if she DID have down syndrome, the doctors wouldn't be worried at all about her having a relapse. Now we just have to wait and be patient. UGH! That's the hardest!
So on one hand it's not a cause to worry and yet I find myself fretting all over again, just like about 7 months ago. How can I live not knowing if, or when, the cancer may or may not come back? 1 month? 2 years? 5? 20? Never? It's like this cloud over my head and it shadows everything at every moment, and I don't know if or when it's ever going to bring rain.
Beto is very encouraging and positive. We must continue to hold onto and trust in God and continue to believe in His goodness, His promises, and that Bela is healed. This does not mean that she will have a relapse and right now all other signs point to very good health. Please pray for Bela to continue to improve and to stay in remission. This once again is drawing us closer to Him in prayer and making us mindful again of the thousands of children fighting cancer out there right now, and to not forget them and the more difficult battles they and their families fight every day. We feel very blessed that Bela is home and doing well now. Thank you for all of your continued prayers.
That had to be a hard post to write but thank you for sharing that with us Laura. We will continue to curse that cancer in Jesus' Name and that it will NEVER return! I am so thankful she has such great health now and is thriving. Every time the devil brings those bad thoughts to your mind, counter-act him with a verse about healing, etc... Fight like Jesus did, with the WORD. I am probably preaching to the choir I know, but thought you could use some encouragement. Love you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the update, Laura. Praying for you guys.
ReplyDeleteThank you both!
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