The Strickland Family Blog

St. Baldrick’s Foundation - March 17, 2009

All donations go toward childhood cancer research!

We finally made it to the antibody stage!!!! The antibody that Paris is receiving is 8H9 and is tagged with radiation and only travels within the cranial/spinal fluid to target any microscopic neuroblastoma cells that may remain.  8H9 nis only allowed to be given a total of four times.  We started the antibody treatment 8H9 on March 3.  The first dose was a test dose.  It was 2 mCi.  The next two following days March 4th and 5th Paris had her ommaya tapped and cranial/spinal fluid was drained and tested.  Pet scans followed to ensure the flow of the antibody.  The scan showed that the antibody engulfed the entire area, with the thought that if any cells remain they would be surrounded and attacked by the antibody. She received her second dose March 10.  This dose was much stronger 34 mCi and classified her as radioactive.  We had to spend the night in isolation in another hotel room.  The following two days she received a crainal/spinal tap to  check the fluid and test teh level of radioactivity.  I had strick rules for this dose.  An average adult is only allowed 500 m rem per year.  Paris was giving off 190 m rem per hour, meaning that if I held her I would reach my legal limit within 3 hours.  They told me that I must limit holding her for 30 minutes for the next 3 days, but if necessary can hold her more I would just be over my limit.

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