May, 2003

5/29/03

Walter, Erin, and I returned from Houston a short while ago, having completed the second of eight tumor vaccines. We will return for the third one two weeks from tomorrow. Erin's blood and urine labs have been great, and she has had little to no reaction to the vaccine, so far. She will begin the third cycle of accutane tomorrow, and we are hoping it goes as smoothly as the last one did.

School is over for both Erin and Davis. Erin is now a first grader and Davis is now a sophomore. Both had incredible school years. Erin danced in her end-of-year recital last weekend and did a beautiful job. We loved every minute of it (except that we missed Davis's soccer team playing and winning the championship match of the Houston Open). We all got to see his team win the Brenham Thunder Classic a few weekends before. It was the first time I had seen his Magic team play since last spring. Erin had to sit out the soccer year, but will start making up for it next week, when she goes to her first soccer camp!

We are glad we are able to continue posting good news of the site. Thanks for stopping by!

5/18/03

Erin finished her second round of accutane last Thursday and had her first tumor vaccine. The vaccine, grown from tumor cells taken from Erin during her initial biopsy last July, will help her body's immune system seek out and kill any remaining tumor cells floating around in her body. The sequence of eight vaccinations will, hopefully, train her body's natural immunities to continue to do this her whole life.

We will go to Houston one day every other week for nine weeks to receive the vaccine, then once a month after that. On the alternating weeks, Erin will have extensive blood work done locally. The doctor doesn't expect many side effects beyond the tenderness most people feel after they have had a shot. She will also have to have a couple of punch biopsies on the injection site to make sure that no tumor cells are being introduced during the vaccine. These will hurt more.

We are taking these extra post-treatment precautions (accutane and vaccine) because neuroblastoma is a very tricky cancer that recurs in about half children with Erin's stage disease. Erin will have scans again in August and October to make sure everything is still as good then as it appears today.

Yesterday was quite a big day for Erin--two swimming parties, including one in our neighborhood lake. Just a week ago, she would have had to turn down both invitations because of her central line. She had a blast!

5/14/03

To quote a famous (well. . . famous in the Buenger household) doctor, Dr. Heidi Russell of Texas Children's Hospital, "NO TUMOR FOUND IN MIBG OR IN BONE MARROW" (all capitals in original). This is terrific news for us all. Erin will continue treatment as scheduled (accutane and vaccine), but this is the best scenario we could hope for. No signs of tumor in standard tests and scans. No lingering effects from treatment beyond a slightly suppressed immune system. We will be celebrating tonight!

5/10/03

Erin finished scan and test week yesterday. It was a very successful week all around. First, she was very cooperative during everything! I think the technicians got very usuable pictures. Second, her friend Nico (and his mom and brother) went with us to Houston, and we mixed in a lot of fun with the hospital visits. We visited both the Downtown Aquarium and the Children's Museum and had a big, big time. Third, ERIN HAD HER CENTRAL LINE REMOVED. This means swimming, bathing, and No Unsightly Bulge under the dance costume on recital weekend (in two weeks). It also means the doctors don't think she will need it for more chemotherapy!

We only have the results for the CT scan and the bone scan. Both were clean. I will update next week when we get the results of the MIBG scan and the bone marrow biopsy.

Tumor vaccine starts next Thursday. This will last about five months (weekly for 9 weeks and monthly for the 3 months following) and end about the time she finishes her Accutane. By the way, this round of Accutane has been less vicious on Erin's face. On the whole, a very good week.