Here is an old journal entry about Skeeter hitting remission.
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
- White Cell Count: *** (Normal = 4.0 – 12)
- Hemoglobin: 10.0 (Normal = 11.5 -14.5)
- Platelet: 159 (Normal = 160 – 370)
- ANC: 3860 (Normal = 1400 – 6600)
YEAH! It is official… Skeeter is in remission. His last draw came up at less than 3 leukemia and his body is really starting to heal up. Both his platelets and ANC are at a treatment high. He also received his vincristine (chemo) in his IV. He has officially gained 4 pounds in the last week too… wow, those steroids sure work fast! Skeeter now weighs more than his four-year-old brother.
He will have another sedation clinic next week with a spinal tap and chemo only. The next phase of treatment is the consolidation phase and it should begin next week as long as his platelets are over 100 and his ANC is over 1000. Consolidation uses high-dose chemotherapy to attempt to kill any remaining leukemia cells. This phase will also mean a change in medicines since he will be getting more of his chemo at home orally.
Remission in blood cancers is achieved when the number of leukemic cells in the blood draw are less than 3. They hope to achieve this number within the first 28 days of treatment – if it is not achieved in that time frame, then the leukemia is considered to be of a stronger hold and there is a different treatment path taken. Skeeter hit that number at day 20. ~whew~ This is still only the first 20 days of a 3.5 year treatment plan so it is considered by most parents as the first remission”… because, to the outside world, it doesn’t mean what it means to you.
When talking with people who don’t have experience with blood cancers, the term remission usually reference a completion. Done with chemo – clean bill of health at this point. For us, it just means that the doctors managed to get it under control and now we have to get through the next 3.5 years in order to eradicate it from his entire little body. That is the hard part. Most parents, and I did this too, will refrain from saying that they child is in remission until treatment is completed. The common phrasing is “Skeeter is in treatment for leukemia and things are going well.” As much rejoicing that happens when this first remission is achieved… it is not the end and it just barely betters your fortune.
