A roller coaster

Today we are on a roller coaster - the steroids are causing major mood changes, and Alex is hitting, biting, scratching and kicking. This is not the sweet boy I know. He is scared, he is frustrated, he is confused, and he is pumped full of chemicals. Our heart aches for him.

We may be able to go home tomorrow, but between now and then are 3 more Prednisone doses, and two shots in each thigh at the same time (another Chemo drug called PEG Asparaginase). He also has 3 more Allopurinol doses, a Zantac dose, and another Septra dose. Our goal today is to not let him throw up with any of these.

We have been told that after the "Induction Phase" (first 30 days) that he'll be officially in "remission". We thought that was fast, when talking about a 2 year Chemo regimen, but our doctor explained it like this.

Alex had 10 to the 10th power of cancer cells (100 billion). The steroids will kill 99% of the cancer cells in the first 30 days. After 30 days, they won't be able to detect cancer cells in his body - that by definition is "remission". But that still leaves 1 billion cancer cells in his body, that are by the simple fact that they are there, resistant to the steroids. The next 23 months, are targeted to kill those last 1 billion cells. It only takes 1 cell to create a new tumor.

We have a long road, and today has been really hard (and it's only 1pm) - I better go, I think it's about time for some additional medication...