February 25, 2009

Maturation

We met with the our oncologist yesterday and she told us that the pathology on the tumor shows that it is maturing. Depending on where they took measurements it is 5-50% mature.

She is planning to schedule a post-surgery MRI in a month or so, once all the swelling has gone down from her surgery. From there she will have MRIs every three months, and urine tests every month. They carefully watch the VMA and HVA levels in her urine that are markers for the chemicals that the tumor puts out. Those numbers have been steadily climbing over time, falling only after she has had a surgery and tumor is removed, and then climbing again. Our second oncologist, Dr. M., has told us that she expects to see these numbers rise for quite some time while the tumor matures.

We have an appointment in a couple of weeks for a consult with the surgeon for removing her Hickman line!! The line that has been taped to her chest for the past year.

It will be quite some time before we can know that she is cancer-free. This is a process that can take a very long time, and I don't know if we will ever stop holding our breath after every MRI. But it is fantastic news to hear, especially as we are coming up on the one-year anniversary of her diagnosis. If I had known then that it would take a year to finally hear some good news...well, I don't know that I would've made it.

8 comments:

Ericka said...

awesome and wonderful news - I'm so glad she gets to have her Hickman line removed.

jocelyn said...

That is so fantastic! I know it's been a difficult year for you guys and I'm so glad that you are finally getting some good news!

Unknown said...

That is such exciting news! We're ecstatic for Madeleine:)

Hope said...

Wow, That is awesome! I could do a happy dance;)

I've been in remission from NB for over 20 yrs and I still have testing, so that never goes away.

I am just thrilled about the hickman line too!

Anonymous said...

Very good news! Give Mads a big hug for us. =)

Anonymous said...

Yippee!!!
Nana and papa B

Hi, my name is Sarah. said...

Yay, Madeleine can hit the pool now!! I'm glad you got good news!

Anonymous said...

Look out world- here she comes!