Delayed Intensification Delayed No More

And his numbers went up!  From 520 to 2000.  So delayed intensification could be delayed no more.  

The new medications include Doxorubicin, which has a cumulative effect.  By week three, which is December 15th, we expect Harry's counts to drop, his hair to fall out, his muscles to be weak -- and Harry will again need transfusions. Of these, the factor that impacts Harry the most will be muscle weakness as it keeps from cycling.  

And the need to exercise will increased to counter the effects of Dexamethadone, a steroid that causes mood swings, anger, and insomnia.  Or just intensifies the basic side effects of being a teenager. 

He will also be on Erwinia three times a week for four weeks.  Which means three visits a week to CNMC for the next month  

There will be two lumbar punctures, hold the anesthesia.  Two full days of Ara C.  And on day 29, two weeks of home care when the nurses come to us.  Why can't they always come?  I have no answer for that.  But we would miss the gang on the 4th floor.  

Other meds include Thioguanine which will also lower his blood counts, and force him to avoid citrus & milk, and Vincristine.  

Round 4 = 6 meds.  And before you think no nausea as it is not mentioned as a side effect, just remember: it is always a side effect.   

Delayed Intensification Delayed Again

chowing down after 

Again on Monday morning we left for the hospital at 730 am.  And Manic Monday was on the radio.  Bad sign.  Both in lyrics, and in girl band.  More of a Go-Go's fan.  After a great double Mitzvah weekend (congratulations to Sami Jinich & Bati Shemtov!)  he was rested, in shape & ready to chemo down.  But to do the first step his ANC must be at 700.  And it came in at 520.  Meaning sushi is fine (and that is the really important part) but no lumbar puncture, which is needed to jump start this round.  Dr. Angiolillo assured me this is quite normal as the marrow is still repairing from the cumulative effects of massive methotraxate last round.
 
Normal                   Harry 6/18  7/21  7/23    8/1     8/11   8/18    8/29     9/11   9/26.      11/10    11/17
Hemoglobin  12-16      14.1           8.7     7.4     7.3    10.6     8.9      6.9       9.8    11.7        13.5   13.6
Platelets 150-350        235             89       65      370   309     169     40         362    369        252    241
WBC  5000-10000     8750           2006   100    640   3390   1930    1850    2580  6940    1740    2170
ANC. Above 1500.                      1150    270       50  1620    880     1210     1148  4990     470    540

Many thanks to Isaac Wolfe for the Mama Mancini's shirt.  Our favorite XM ad, second only to Rosetta Stone (and I do believe owning a new pair of shoes may make me a better person.  With a platform, maybe even a more stable person.)

The meat lovers meatball

   Till Friday when we try again.......

Delayed Intensification Delayed

If there was ever a name to sum up high school years, delayed intensification might be it.  The period right before we hit college and really become, or reinvent, ourselves into our future selves.  Well this is the name of round 4.

To go back to the beginning, Harry has 9 rounds of treatment.  This week begins round 4.  Delayed Intensification.  Or should have started.  After spending the morning at the hospital, it was found he did not make the counts.  To begin he needed his ANC at 700.  (Our usual basis is a minimum of 500 for Sushi.).  His number was 420.  So not even sushi for lunch.


Normal                   Harry 6/18    7/21   7/23    8/1      8/11   8/18    8/29     9/11   9/26.      11/10
Hemoglobin  12-16      14.1           8.7     7.4     7.3       10.6     8.9      6.9       9.8    11.7        13.5
Platelets 150-350        235             89       65      370      309     169     40         362    369        252
WBC  5000-10000     8750           2006   100    640      3390   1930    1850    2580  6940    1740
ANC. Above 1500.                      1150    270       50     1620    880     1210     1148  4990     470

But speaking of rounds, yesterday was the Hope for Henry Fight For Kids event featuring 3 boxers -  Chazz Witherspoon, Demarcus Corley & Mia St. John.  Harry hung out a bit with Chazz Witherspoon.  Harry actually boxed a bit at LA Boxing.  And had a punching ball on his room.  While he is presently unable to box, Chazz told him to continue to shadow box but most importantly box mentally.  (And I believe there could be a fabulous new low impact workout class - mental boxing/physical sleeping.  Combo of nap time with just the desire to get exercise.  Maybe the next [solidcore] for the lazy and out of shape?).

For those who don't know about Hope for Henry, it was started by my friend Laurie Strongin in memory of her son Henry who also had a rare form of cancer.  Laurie has dedicated her life to providing fun and a bit of normality to children facing long term hospital stays.  She organizes regular holiday parties, birthday presents, and even makeovers for the teens!  For more about It -www.HopeforHenry.org

In the meantime, we want to thank our cousin Julie Rosenberg, the wife of Fredric and the mother of Hamilton, for running in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Moms in Training.  As a participant, she will run a 4 mile race in November to bring greater awareness to families with children in treatment. Fredric has also signed up to run the race, although he is doing his own training! For the Rosenberg-Weinstein clan her page is , http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/momintrn14/jmrosenberg.  And there are more cute photos of Hamilton! It means a lot to all of us, Julie. We are really touched.

Julie & Hamilton in training

On Saturday Harry joined the JPDS gang to celebrate the fabulous Ally Knapp's Bat Mitzvah!   He biked over during the day and he danced most of the night.  (And they thought he could not handle chemo this week?) A big Mazel Tov to the entire Milbauer Knapp mishpacha.

We try again next Monday.