Low Risk Category

Last week Seth went to Campbelltown hospital on Wednesday and Westmead on Friday. It was this friday that we got the news we have been waiting for. Seth has been put in the Low Risk Category. This means that he can cruise along with normal strength chemotherapy treatment. If he was high risk, it would have meant that he would need a bone marrow transplant straight away. If he was mid risk, he would have to go through some pretty heavy chemo treatments. We have been waiting for this news and it is such a relief to finally get that low risk category. It feels like we can breathe a bit easier now and just get on with things. Seth was due to go to hospital today (Sunday) but they didn't have a spare bed so we ring tomorrow and find out if they have a spare bed. He needs to have his second round of high dose methotrexate.

First High Dose Chemo Done!

We took Seth into hospital on Sunday for his very first High Dose Methotrexate Chemotherapy and came home Wednesday afternoon. When we arrived at hospital Sunday night, they hooked him up to a double therapy drip - one normal saline, one with bicarb. The bicarb is to heighten his PH levels so that they can protect his body from the chemo drug. Once he was at the correct levels which was around 8am Monday morning, they started the Methotrexate which is a clear rich yellow coloured liquid. Similar to if you put yellow food colouring into water. This runs for 24 hours. It made Seth feel quite nauseas and he was put on medication to stop him from vomiting. He also suffered a couple bouts of diahorrea and some quite painful reflux. Seth has become extremely sensitive to smells and tastes which makes meal time hard. He was then given other medication, that seeks out the methotrexate from the cells and flushes it out of his system. He continues on the double therapy treatment until blood test results show that the levels of the methotrexate are low. Once that level has been reached, they can stop the drips and send him home. His blood counts should be dropping in about a week, when he will once again lose his ability to fight viruses and bacteria and he will be needing more transfusions. This is such an intense phase of treatment for him. I hope it treats him kindly.
He has to keep up with his oral chemo treatments throughout this intense phase as well. It is expected that he will get Mucositis from this treatment which is a horrible side effect. They get ulcers from their mouth, all the way down their digestive system. With any luck, he won't be too badly affected. He has 6 rounds of this treatment to get through before moving on.
Even though we have finally heard those magical words remission, we have had to explain to Seth that, yes, the doctors can't find any cancer anymore, but if they stop giving him his medicine it will come back again.
He has to go to Campbelltown for a line flush on Wednesday next week, Westmead clinic on the friday after that to book in for his stay and back in for his next dose of Methotrexate on Sunday 24th October.
He is still unable to go to school as whooping cough is running rampant there still.

That sweet, sweet word REMISSION!!!

Seth went to Westmead yesterday and the doctors finally spoke that word we have been waiting for. Seth is in remission!!!!! Officially there is one test result to come called an MRD that can pick up tiny amounts of left over cancer cells. If this is clear we are all good BUT he has gained the remission title as they cannot find any traces of Leukaemia in his bone marrow. So, so happy!!!
After we recieved that good news, we got another phone call from the "Make a Wish Foundation". They will be granting Seth his wish (which is to sleep on a boat in the queensland islands and fly in a helicopter). I must say, yesterday was a very happy day in our house!!
Tomorrow Seth has to go to hospital to begin his methotrexate chemo. He should be there between 3 - 5 days if all goes well. His hair is starting to thin out alot again, I assume from the oral chemo he is on, but he is still styling away with copious amounts of gel so I think we will leave it for as long as we can.