Home from NY
We flew into Chicago last night from our consultation with Dr. Krammer in NY. The meeting lasted 4 hours and I met with everyone on the team. After long discussions and an evaluation of Paris it was decided that the best treatment option for Paris’ long term health and independent living would be that we would do focal radiation to the specific area at a low dose of 20 grey over a 4 week period beginning on Monday. They felt that this is a low dose leaving little side affects that would only be detected by a neurological test, but nothing that would be noticed by everyday people. They have never performed focal radiaiton on an infant having neuroblastoma but with their expertise they feel that they can give low doses of radiation and increase the number of antibody therapy given to componsate for the typically protocal of crainal/spinal radiation. Paris would be sedated daily and given 10 minutes of direct radiation to her cerebullum. The first week in NY would require preparation including a head immobilizer, putting in a port for future Chemo treatments and routine blood draws to determine counts/possible transfusions. This is the protocal and seen as the best and only possibility for survival. If we stray from the protocal there has been no known survivors.
If we did not agree to this option, we would greatly risk the possibility of multiple lesions due to free floating cells spreading to the brain that ultimately be inoperable.
Dr. Krammer infomed me that there are 500 documented cased of Neuroblastoma in the US yearly, 2/3 of those children are toddlers and older with advanced stage 4 cancer. Out of 500 only 50 are infants born with Neuroblastoma like Paris. However Pairs is the ONLY 1 documented infant case born with Neuroblastoma, with negative MNIC (meaning not high risk) at a stage 3 cancer that developed an aggressive caner in her cerebeullum. The doctors are baffled by this becuase there is NONE to compare statistics too in her situation.
Paris will be able to receive Chemo in Chicago after radiation has been given in NY. The plan will then be, to return to NY for Antibody treatment.
As always, thanks again for everyones ongoing support and prayers.
Ralph, Lauren & Paris