An Update

Brody has had a rough few days.  He was admitted for chemo on Tuesday.  He received the high dose IV cyclophosphamide, Mesna, Temsirolimus, and vinorelbine.  He handled it all okay Tuesday night.   He didn't have a lot of nausea and did not vomit Tuesday night.  He was released on Wednesday morning in just enough time for us to travel to Flower hospital to meet with his radiation oncologist there.  Brody had an MRI done on Monday of the spine.  The radiation oncologist reviewed this latest MRI and let us know that radiation therapy to this region is certainly doable for Brody since his previous radiation treatments were not in this area and fortunately the area that needs treated now can withstand large doses of radiation.   The risks and side effects sound fairly minimal for treating in this area too.  (Certainly far less than previous treatments he went through).  The MRI was also sent to Cincinnati Children's Hospital.  The radiation oncologist and neurosurgeon there reviewed the MRI and concurred that radiation treaments ASAP would be the best next step for Brody.   Brody has continued to have problems emptying his bladder and has been experiencing swelling again in his groin (especially after receiving cyclophosphamide).  The swelling is fortunately, much better today compared to Wednesday and Thursday.  Brody was very nauseated on Wednesday and Thursday.  He had problems being able to eat anything without throwing up.  He also started having a lot of pains in his left leg on Wednesday and Thursday.   The nausea and the pains in his left leg were much better today though.  He felt okay most of the day but did have periods of moderate belly pains off and on all day today.  His leg was not hurting him today while sitting or resting but he was unable to walk on it.  

Brody really wanted to go bowling this afternoon and to go see the Lego Movie.  Neither of these excursions worked out today though.  He kept having too much pain in his belly.  Also, Brody didn't want to try bowling from his wheelchair.  He cannot walk very well at all right now and would not have been able to bowl today without being in a wheelchair.  

Brody's hair has started falling out again recently.  He was getting upset today about how much and how quickly his hair was falling out.  He was more annoyed with the pieces falling in his face and onto his tablet he was playing with than he was about actually losing his hair again.  He finds the falling out process to be more annoying than just being bald again.  We may be shaving his head for him again soon so he won't be so annoyed by it.  

Brody is scheduled on Tuesday this next week for his radiation planning session.  During this session they will make molds to hold Brody's body perfectly still for each of his upcoming radiation treatments.  He will need to lie perfectly still for about 45 mins per session.  They are planning to do 15 sessions.  We are hoping that he will be able to start the actual radiation treatments very soon.  We are not sure how long the delay will be between the planning session and the radiation treatments.  We are hoping the radiation treatments will work quickly to shrink Brody's tumor out of the spinal column and that Brody will begin to feel much better.  Many of his recent symptoms are believed to be due to the tumor in this location.  

Brody will have surgery on Wednesday this next week to obtain biopsy samples.  These will be sent to GeneKey in California.  (please see previous posts about what GeneKey will do).  

After the biopsy surgery, he will head up to the oncology wing for chemo again.  He will not need to stay overnight for this one though.  It will just be the temsirolimus and vinorelbine.  

Brody has certainly felt better today than he did on Wednesday and Thursday.  Let's hope tomorrow he will feel even better than today.