Check out those cheeks!

Hello everyone,

Today is a milestone - the end of the Induction phase of Dane's treatment. He has received 28 days of a combination of drugs and his final bone marrow test procedure was earlier this morning. The results of the procedure are being sent away to the Children's Oncology Group and our pediatric oncologist in Winnipeg expects to hear back by sometime this Friday. We were advised last Friday that after his day 15 bone marrow test, the liquid and bone sample both showed 0% leukemia cells. In lay person terms this means that he was in remission and no leukemia cells could be detected under a microscope. However, given it takes millions of cells for leukemia to be diagnosed, having 0% does not mean he is cured. Dane will still have many leukemia cells and the sample that was taken today is being tested for what is referred to as the Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) measurement. The MRD result will be much more indicative of the leukemia cells remaining in Dane's body, as this test measures the cells at a much more sensitive level than a microscope can. We will be anxiously awaiting this result, as a low MRD will mean he is even more of a Early Rapid Responder and this will bode well for his ongoing treatment. The doctors cannot predict the result, however like us they are very hopeful for a good outcome.

Phase II of his treatment is expected to begin next week and we have many appointments and meetings scheduled. We meet with the oncology team Monday to review the MRD results and discuss the particulars of the Consolidation Phase, expected to last one to two months. Dane's blood levels will be checked on Tuesday to determine if he is ready to start the next round. If his counts are good, he will have a spinal tap and chemo on Wednesday. If they are not good enough, Phase II will be postponed to the following week. He is returning to school part-time next week so we will be meeting with the hospital educators and Oakenwald staff on Thursday and then presentations are being made to Dane and Ashley's classes.

We will all be doing a very big happy dance this evening when Dane takes his final steroid dose for this round. We've had 28 days of twice daily steroids and as you can see from the picture I've included, he has ballooned in the past couple of weeks. He has gained nearly seven pounds and on a four foot frame that started out at 45 pounds, that is a lot of weight. He was absolutely miserable after his procedure this morning, likely due to being very hungry because he had to fast until 10:00 am today. He had his choice of lunch restaurants and not to any one's surprise, chose George's. He insisted today that he was going to eat a DOUBLE cheeseburger and french fries and remarkably he polished it off. The staff could not believe this little person ate so much and they said they were going to have to write it down in the record book. If that's not a claim to fame for Dane, I don't know what is! Personally I am looking forward to the return of our more "svelte" son, the chubby cheeks really change his appearance and he just doesn't look like Dane. However, the doctors said the extra pounds are a good thing, as his appetite will likely steadily decline in the next phase and we'll be begging him to eat. If only there was a happy medium.

Take care everyone and please keep everything crossed for a great MRD result. I will post another update on Friday once we hear the news.

Thank you ... Janie and Dirk