Treatment Updates
Jade's 1st day back at school!
Following her diagnosis of Pre-B ALL, Jade remained in the hospital for a week to begin "induction", an intensive month of treatments with the goal of greatly reducing the numbers of leukemic cells in her system after which she was able to return home. A second bone marrow biopsy at the end of May confirmed that the goal of less than 5% leukemic cells had been achieved and assigned her an "average risk" status for the next phase of her treatment.
During the months of July and August, Jade received methotrexate intravenously every ten days in increasing dosages, with the last dose being three times the original dose, a phase know as Interim Maintenance 1. Not all patients can handle this, but Jade did. She also received vincristine intravenously every ten days and received one injection of methotrexate in her spine.
In September 2011, Jade began her most serious treatment, known as Delayed Intensification. To lessen the chance of infection a port was surgically implanted in her upper chest area, just below the skin and connected to her heart for continuing treatments. Delayed Intensification is a 56-day cycle of chemo drugs that includes dexamethasone, vincristine, doxorubicin, pegaspargase, cyclophosphamide, thioguanine and cytarabine. Jade will receive one of her chemo drugs via injection at home, some by mouth and others via injection at the hospital.
In December 2011, Jade began the Maintenance portion of her treatment which will last for two years. As a participant in a study that has been going on since the 1970's, Jade was randomly assigned to "Arm D", one of four groups for treatment. In this arm, the oral drug methotrexate is given in higher doses and two other drugs, dexamethasone and intrathecal methotrexate, are given in lesser doses. In January 2012, Jade was happily reunited with her friends at school. She continues to respond well to treatments.
Jade's doctor, Yves DeClerck is truly fantastic. Jade loves him and we feel so fortunate to have this internationally respected doctor treating our little Jade. He has his own research lab at Children's Hospital Los Angeles and has been studying and treating children's cancers since the early 1970s. More about him and his work is available at: http://uscnorriscancer.usc.edu/about/programleaders/yves.html
July 8, 2013 is Jade's last day for treatment. Following this, there will be a five year monitoring period in case of a relapse. While we continue to take life one day at a time, Jade's courage and strength inspire us to keep going. In spite of all that she has been through, she continues to be a happy and outgoing little four-year-old girl. We are so proud of her. We would again like to thank all of our friends, family and the kindness of strangers in helping our family through this difficult time.
On February 13, 2012, our family learned that there is a nationwide shortage of the drug methotrexate which will place the lives of thousands of kids with ALL in eminent danger! We urge you to contact the drug companies who produce this drug and government representatives to implore them to take action and stop this crisis!!
For additional information, more daily updates or to offer comments, join Jadie's family on Facebook group: "Jade's Fight to Beat Leukemia".
During the months of July and August, Jade received methotrexate intravenously every ten days in increasing dosages, with the last dose being three times the original dose, a phase know as Interim Maintenance 1. Not all patients can handle this, but Jade did. She also received vincristine intravenously every ten days and received one injection of methotrexate in her spine.
In September 2011, Jade began her most serious treatment, known as Delayed Intensification. To lessen the chance of infection a port was surgically implanted in her upper chest area, just below the skin and connected to her heart for continuing treatments. Delayed Intensification is a 56-day cycle of chemo drugs that includes dexamethasone, vincristine, doxorubicin, pegaspargase, cyclophosphamide, thioguanine and cytarabine. Jade will receive one of her chemo drugs via injection at home, some by mouth and others via injection at the hospital.
In December 2011, Jade began the Maintenance portion of her treatment which will last for two years. As a participant in a study that has been going on since the 1970's, Jade was randomly assigned to "Arm D", one of four groups for treatment. In this arm, the oral drug methotrexate is given in higher doses and two other drugs, dexamethasone and intrathecal methotrexate, are given in lesser doses. In January 2012, Jade was happily reunited with her friends at school. She continues to respond well to treatments.
Jade's doctor, Yves DeClerck is truly fantastic. Jade loves him and we feel so fortunate to have this internationally respected doctor treating our little Jade. He has his own research lab at Children's Hospital Los Angeles and has been studying and treating children's cancers since the early 1970s. More about him and his work is available at: http://uscnorriscancer.usc.edu/about/programleaders/yves.html
July 8, 2013 is Jade's last day for treatment. Following this, there will be a five year monitoring period in case of a relapse. While we continue to take life one day at a time, Jade's courage and strength inspire us to keep going. In spite of all that she has been through, she continues to be a happy and outgoing little four-year-old girl. We are so proud of her. We would again like to thank all of our friends, family and the kindness of strangers in helping our family through this difficult time.
On February 13, 2012, our family learned that there is a nationwide shortage of the drug methotrexate which will place the lives of thousands of kids with ALL in eminent danger! We urge you to contact the drug companies who produce this drug and government representatives to implore them to take action and stop this crisis!!
For additional information, more daily updates or to offer comments, join Jadie's family on Facebook group: "Jade's Fight to Beat Leukemia".