Induction Test Results

We'll write more a little later today regarding Carson's latest antics. But on with the latest news. The tests results are IN and we couldn't have asked for anything better. It is official....

• Carson's bone marrow continues to show no leukemia blasts present
• The Minimum Residual Disease Test came back stating that Carson had less than 0.1% leukemia cells present in the bone marrow. They can only measure as small as 0.1% - therefore, they assign a value of 0% as the final result to this test! If there is any little microscopic amount of leukemia left in the bone marrow, it is too small to measure.
  
• The MRD result means Carson is a "Rapid Early Responder" and he is now considered an Intermediate Risk.

Thank you God! Go Carson! Go Chemo!

So, what do we do next? We continue on to the next phases of treatment. For those with Intermediate and Low Risk designations, there are two arms of treatment in the study. The main difference between them is whether you receive a drug called Methotrexate in several big high doses, or whether you receive smaller doses of the drug more frequently. Carson has been assigned to the High Dose Methotrexate arm. This will require several 3-4 day stays in the hospital, but it will not occur until later in his treatment.

For now, Carson enter the Consolidation phase of treatment where he'll be receiving spinal chemo every week for the next 56 days. He'll also receive a few shots like the ones he had earlier in his treatment, more oral medications, plus a new cocktail of drugs to be given through the IV at various points.

We are extremely encouraged by the latest news, but now we're also scared as we move on to the next unknown. So many questions are crowding my mind, it is hard to enjoy the good news for very long. How will the next round of treatment go? How intense will the side effects be? Will we still have such wonderful test results? I wish this drama in which we find ourselves could be over at the end of Induction. "That's it, good test results, please collect your all clear certificate and proceed with your lives". If only it were that simple.

I say all this to ask again. Please keep our little guy in your daily prayers. His road is long and will continue to be hard at times. I am weary just thinking about it, but I know we'll all have the strength when we need it. We have the prayer support of our friends and family and a strong God on whom to lean.

Thank you God! Go Carson! Go Chemo!

-Jennifer