My Diary
 
 
 
After a wonderful Christmas it’s time to step back into the real world! Jacob will now return to London for further scans on the 15th and 16th of January. We will receive the results (initially by telephone) a few days later. These scans will determine whether or not Jacob’s MIBG treatment has had any success in removing the cancer from his bone marrow. A lot is hanging on these results and it is difficult to put the experience of waiting for them into words. We have been in this position many times before, but it does not get any easier. So far we have had only bad news and although we try not to have unrealistic expectations this time around, it is impossible not to build your hopes up. It is only hope that keeps us going at times. Hope becomes a means in itself, a way of life. So, we just have to put all this to one side and carry on with life as best we can. People ask us continuously ‘what next?’. The answer to this is we don’t know at this stage, things are complicated. If Jacob’s scans do come back clear, he can then progress to surgery for the removal of his primary tumour and then receive additional UK based treatment which may comprise of further radiation treatment and high dose chemotherapy. However, in amongst all this is the fact that in cases such as Jacob’s, even if remission is achieved (i.e there is no evidence of disease) this cancer comes back in 70% of children. Should Jacob’s scans not come back clear our understanding is that there is no further UK based treatment available for him. This is why we have our eye on treatment in the USA, as we may well get to a point where this is the final option, either because UK treatment is exhausted or Jacob relapses in the future. Please think of Jacob in the coming weeks and continue with your prayers and positive thoughts. We have to believe that Jacob is going to get through this!!
Wednesday, 9 January 2008
More Scans