3rd MRI results

We saw Lisa last Tuesday for scan and test results. From the MRI, the tumour was just a fraction bigger than 3 months ago, and the hormone levels in Carys’s urine was also slightly higher than previously. We were not so pleased to hear these results, but Lisa was not concerned. As she explained that a couple of millimetres was not significant, especially as MRI scans by nature don’t always have clear cut outlines. There is one part of the tumour that Lisa is keeping a close eye on, and that’s the part that borders the spine. There is a little “finger” of tumour that is nudging into the spine where it has found some space to fill. It is near the spinal cord, but not touching it. This little finger has not changed in shape since the previous scan, so that is good. Apparently, the nature of this type of tumour is to creep into any little space it can find. Such a nasty little beast! For now, we can rest easier till the next scan. The results I would say were ok, perhaps even good. Great would be to see some shrinkage, bad would be to see a lot of growth. So to be in the middle is, I guess, an ok place to be right now. I did ask Lisa what would happen if after each scan, there was just a little bit more growth, but nothing significant. She said that they would look at the overall progression, and should a change of treatment be warranted, it would probably be surgery rather than further chemo. I was glad to hear that, as I do feel that the chemo drugs have much worse effects than surgery. Especially on such little bodies, who knows what the long term effects are?
We also got some blood serum test results back. This was a blood test we did a few weeks ago to assess the antibody serum levels that Carys has. Chemo affects the immune system, so we had to do the serum test to see what vaccinations she needs. The results showed that the only antibodies she has is against Hepatitis B. Everything else was wiped out by the chemo, so we have to start again. We started off with 2 injections last Tuesday, and Lisa wants her to get the rest in the next few weeks to get her up to date with what she should have at this age. Poor Carys!