Second phase of treatment (Consolidation)

We were at the hospital 2 days in a row this past week. On Thursday, we discussed Olivia's test results with her doctor and had her regular blood test.We needed her blood counts to be at a certain level in order to proceed to the next phase, which is called consolidation. And so Friday, we started this phase with a new chemotherapy treatment. This phase will last for 1 month. The goal of this phase is to focus on her central nervous system. This means she will be sedated once a week and be given chemo through her spine, plus a daily oral chemo medicine.

Results from her 1st month of treatment was favorable. Because of her age and her white blood count being less than 50,000 during diagnosis, she is considered stander risk (vs. High risk). Within standard risk, there are sub risk categories which is determined during her 1st month of treatment (Induction). Based on the results, she is borderline average risk (there is low risk, average risk and high risk). She would have been categorized as low risk if her 8th day results showed that her cancer cells were less than 0.01%. Hers was 0.03%.

The risk groups basically address how intense her chemo treatments will be. The goal of the first month is to know the strength of the enemy and eliminate majority of the cancer cells. Once we know the enemy's strength, the doctors will know how to attack. Kids with highly favorable results don't need to be given intense and toxic treatments if their body doesn't need it. Olivia falls within a big percentage of kids falling under the standard-average risk.

Here's Olivia at the hospital on the way to sedation, still in good spirits!

She did great the whole time! Here's the 3-man team for the job getting ready - the comforter (Mommy), the fighter (Olivia), and the Ipad holder (Daddy). Yes, she requested Daddy to hold it for her. Would not want to argue with that. =)