The best we can hope for at this point.

[mellymell]

I just got an update from my stepmom. All her results came back and there are no tumors. I'm assuming this means she is, in fact, in a dormant phase and they're just in "keeping an eye on it" mode right now. She'll go back in June for more blood work and another bone marrow biopsy.

Thanks for all the good thoughts, prayers, vibes and well wishes! I keep meaning to go back and answer all of the comments from the last post, but writing the post itself put me in an instant depression and it took a few days to recover. So, I'm trying to think about this in small doses.

I will say one thing about this situation, now. Alicia went to a doctor originally because of nausea and general gastro-intestinal discomfort. When they didn't find any of the typical ailments, they turned to running some blood tests. They found that she had cancerous cells in her blood and apparently blood cells were cloning themselves. My point is, if you're feeling under the weather and you're just not sure what might be causing it, go to the doctor. You never know what simple stomach upset might mean.

Comments

[baka-san.livejournal.com]

well, i'm glad to hear that it's dormant, at least.

is there anything that can be done for her at this stage? i hope it's not a "watch and wait" sort of thing, but i know that's how it goes sometimes.

[mellymell.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

Unfortunately, it's pretty much exactly a "watch an wait" situation. I think at this point the only thing they can do is keep an eye on it and start treating as soon as they see activity. They may be giving her medications or treatments for the symptoms of this phase. But I'm under the impression (don't know for sure) that things like radiation and chemo are reserved for when it progresses to an active phase.