SD's Chemo Details

There have been some questions about SD's chemotherapy. So here's some details about his treatments; we've been learning this as we go along...

The full cancer treatment plan lasts more than three years, and is split into three major phases:

• Induction - the first month (December) is induction. During induction, the leukemia is attacked with some very strong drugs. The goal at the end of the first month is to have the leukemia go into remission (meaning that it's no longer detectable - though it is still there).
• Consolidation - the next few months are considation. The leukemia is attacked with a variety of other drugs, changed every few days; the idea is to wipe out the majority of the remaining leukemia cells. Since the leukemia is already at an undetectable level, the goal is just to prevent relapse.
• Maintenance - the longest period (about three years) is maintenance. There are still regular chemo treatments through this period, hopefully killing every last cell of leukemia. Again, the goal is to prevent relapse.

After maintenance, SD will have a year of monthly checkups, to make sure that the leukemia does not relapse. If the leukemia stays in remission that year and the following year, then SD will be declared cured.

The cancer treatment plan is always subject to change, depending on how the cancer behaves. At any time, if the cancer relapses, we may have to repeat parts of the treatment. So, the three years and a few months is the "best case" scenario.

The details of the consolidation and maintenance phases are going to depend on how the induction phase goes, and how the cancer reacts. We're currently about halfway through the induction phase, and this is what SD is dealing with right now:

• SD is getting one kind of chemo twice a day (morning and evening).
• He also takes two to four other medications, depending on the day of the week. These are to handle side effects of his chemotherapy.
• There are four other medications that are taken only as needed. Again, these handle side effects, but they aren't needed regularly.
• SD takes other chemotherapy drugs weekly at Grand Rapids. We have to travel down there any time he needs chemo inserted via IV (into his bloodstream) or via IT (into his spinal fluid). All of his at-home medications (chemo and others) are taken orally.