Slow but steady improvements

Hi! It's Alison posting for Kancho again this week. Can't believe it is already July! We forgot to post a photo from the Survivor's Hawaiian Celebration in June at CMC-Northeast so I included it this time. It was inspiring to be surrounded by so many success stories and to spend time with Kancho's health care providers and hospital volunteers in a casual setting. Kancho has shown slow improvements this week and is eager to return home in time for the holiday. His mouth and throat sores have diminished with the help of increased nutrition intake and antibiotics through his IV. Unfortunately his white blood cell count is at zero so he is not able to heal and fight off infection internally as you and I would. He has to wear a mask so he can visit with guests and leave his room to take walks with Kylee without the risk of catching infections. He has also been getting daily blood and platelet transfusions to assist his system with the rebuilding process following his recent chemo treatment. The best news of the week was Kancho's PET scan results which indicated a small reduction in his pelvic tumor, but more importantly a moderate reduction in the cancer cell density and activity in the tumor tissue. This will likely mean he will proceed with the last cycle of his initially prescribed Hyper CVAD regimen, and then move forward with stem cell transplant. We will find out more details as we enter August and talk with Dr. Serody at UNC Chapel Hill. Overall the news was positive and we continue to follow the lead of our doctors toward the goal of remission.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers,

Alison, Kancho and Kylee