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My
Treatment
Everyone has
a different Road Map [treatment protocol]..
Your Oncologist and team of doctors will decide
the best course of action for you.. |
Induction
is the first phase, done in the first month.
Starting on 4-22-99, I had my first chemotherapy
in my spinal column, with Methotrexate. Then,
on 4-23, I had my first chemo port treatment,
using Vincristine and Daunomycin.
Every day, I take a 15mg dose of Prednisone,
three times a day. I also take Pepcid twice
a day. On Saturdays and Sundays, I also take
Bactrim twice a day.
Then, on Mondays and Wednesdays, I go to the
clinic for a shot in my leg of L-Asparaginase.
On Fridays, I get 2 different chemo medicines
in the port, 1.1 g of Vincristine and 19g of
Daunomycin.
|
Diagnosis
Timeline
|
| 2-11-99 |
My
Mommy and Daddy noticed my eyelid
was swollen.... |
| 2-15-99 |
My
preschool teacher noticed the swelling
and getting worse |
| 2-20-99 |
My
Daddy took me to see a local eye
doctor. He checked my eye, he said
everything looked good, no infection,
good vision. Then my Mommy called
him back, still very concerned.
He assured her it was nothing -
extra fatty tissue and I had probably
had it when I was born, now it was
just more prominent. Then my Mommy
and Daddy started looking back at
all of my photos (and they have
lots of them) but they didn't notice
anything.[something was wrong
] |
| 3-01-99 |
My
parents took me to my pediatrician
for my 5 year check up and immunizations.
He looked at my eye and he thought
it was just extra fatty tissue,
too. My eyelid was more swollen,
pushing it down halfway. Neighbors,
family and friends of my parents
were all asking about it. [Mommy
& Daddy were still trying to
find answers]
Then my parents got the name of
an eye specialist at the Jules Stein
Eye Institute (JSEI) at UCLA, but
we couldn't get in for 3 weeks.
|
| 3-11-99 |
My
mommy took me back to my pediatrician
and showed him exactly what was
concerning us. He said that we should
schedule an MRI, and my mother told
him that we had an appointment at
UCLA to see a specialist. |
| 3-23-99 |
We
finally saw Dr. Demer at the JSEI.
Dr. Demer did an ultrasound but
it didn't show enough. He said it
wasn't affecting my vision, he thought
it was a dermoid cyst and he said
it should be removed. He referred
us to Dr. Robert Goldberg, an Orbital
and Opthamalic Plastic Surgeon at
JSEI. |
| 3-25-99 |
Dr.Goldberg
diagnosed me with an orbital tumor.
|
| 3-29-99 |
Dr.
Kundell performed a pre- MRI check.
|
| 3-30-99 |
I
had an MRI of my eye's orbital area
to help Dr.Goldberg during surgery
|
| 4-01-99 |
Dr.
Goldberg did a pre-operative check.
|
| 4-05-99 |
Dr.
Kundell performed a pre-surgery
check |
| 4-09-99 |
Dr.
Goldberg performed my eye surgery
and removed 98% of the tumor. The
other 2% had infiltrated the eye
muscle so he left that, not wanting
to cause any more damage to the
eye...
Dr. Goldberg referred us to Dr.
Marcio Malogolowkin, Associate Professor
of Pediatrics, Clinical Director,
Hematology/Oncology, UCLA. [
Mommy and Daddy were in shock at
this point] |
| 4-13-99 |
The
pathologist's report came back and
confirmed it was Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma
Lymphoblastic Lymphoma [ B Cell]
- High Grade - Stage 1 |
| 4-15-99 |
I had more MRI's of the head and
neck, and CAT scans of the chest,
stomach and pelvis area to see if
it was anywhere else. The results
came back and looked good, except
for the stomach. We had to have
that one redone. |
|
Induction
is the first phase, done in the
first month.
|
| 4-22-99 |
Dr. James Atkinson, Surgeon in Chief,
UCLA Children's Hospital, Professor
of Pediatric Surgery, put a port
in my chest to make it easier to
administer chemotherapy. He also
did a bone marrow test, a spinal
fluid tap and administered chemo
into the spinal column . Then they
did the second CAT scan on my stomach
and another MRI of the orbital area
to see the results of the surgery.
|
| 4-23-99 |
We
got all the test results back and
they all came back negative. It
showed that it hadn't spread anywhere
else, and that it was localized
to the orbital area, Stage 1, NHL.
I also had chemo administered in
my port for the first time.
Unfortunately, the next 2 years
of my life won't be as much fun
as other little boys. I will have
to endure 6 months of intense chemo
and another 18 months of maintenance
treatments. I will be in and out
of doctor's offices and emergency
rooms and I will be taking a lot
of different medications to get
better. It will be a rough road
but we will take it one day at a
time.
My long term prognosis looks very
good, though. The Doctors say I
have a 92-95% survival rate. |
| 4-26-99 |
I
went to the clinic and got my first
shot in my leg. |
| 4-28-99 |
I
went back to the clinic for treatment
and got another shot in my leg. |
| 4-30-99 |
I
went back to the clinic for treatment
and got another shot in my leg.
I also had two other chemo treatments
done in my port and another in my
spinal column. |
| 5-14-99 |
My
hair is starting to shed. |
| 5-25-99 |
My
hair is completely gone. |
|
|
2nd
Phase - Consolidation
|
| 5-25-99 |
I
start tapering off prednisone. I
start using Cyclophosphamide intravenously
and Cytarabine at home intravenously.
I took chemo in my port along with
saline and hepburn. I also began
taking Mercaptorpurine and and Bactrim
daily. |
| 5-28-99 |
My
port was flushed with TPA and my
heart-rate sky-rocketed to 174.
I went to the hospital with a high
fever and got two blood transfusions. |
| 5-31-99 |
My
fever returned and I went back to
the hospital. |
| 6-6-99 |
This
time I checked into the hospital
with a high fever and a staff infection.
I got another blood transfusion
and I finally went home on June
11th. |
| 7-2-99 |
My
blood count O dropped to virtually
nothing, but since I needed to finish
the course, I kept up the Chemo. |
| 8-20-99 |
I
was tested to see if I was in remission.
I had a CAT scan and an MRI. At
this point, I'm taking Vincristine
intraveneously, Lasparaginase shots
(in the leg), and Zophran, to prevent
nausea. |
| 8-27-99 |
I found out my NHL is in remission. |
| 8-31-99 |
I
started Interim Maintenance, which
will last for 2 months.
After that, I start 2 months of
Delayed Intensification, then 2
months of Interim Maintenance followed
by 2 more months of Delayed Intensification.
After all of that, I get tested
again, with more CAT Scans and MRIs.
If I pass these tests then I go
into Maintenance treatments for
a year, followed by eye surgery
to fix the removed tendon and reposition
the eye muscles. |
| 8-31-99 |
I
start taking Vincristine, Methotrexate
and a Lumbar Puncture. |
| 9-1-99 |
I
have an allergic reaction to Peg
Asparaginase and 30 minutes and
I start to get hives. The hives
spread over my entire body. I take
Benadryl to stop the allergic reaction
and get rid of the hives. |
| 10-19-99 |
As
a preventative measure, I get a
flu shot. |
| 11-12-99 |
I
start Delayed Intensification treatments,
using Vincristine, Doxorubicin,
Dexamethasone and Erwinia Asparaginase.
I take the Erwinia Asparaginase,
a study drug, in the place of Peg
Asparaginase. |
| 12-11-99 |
I
have a bad fever and cough, so I
visit the Emergency Room. I get
to go home, though, since I am not
nutrapenic. |
| 12-21-99 |
I
start Reconsolidation treatment,
using a Lumbar Puncture, Cyclophoshamide,
Thioguanine and Cytosine Arabinoside. |
| 1-24-00 |
I
go back to the Emergency Room with
a fever of 101. I check into the
hospital. |
| 1-25-00 |
I
spend the day in the hospital, where
I have blood cultures taken and
I take antibiotics. |
| 1-26-00 |
I'm
still in the hospital, taking antibiotics. |
| 1-27-00 |
I
go home from the hospital. |
| 2-1-00 |
I
start Interim Maintenance II,
with Vincristine, Methotrexate,
Lumbar Puncture and Erwinia Asparaginase.
|
| 2-9-00 |
I
go back to the Emergency Room with
a fever of 103.5. I get to go home,
though, because I'm not nutrapenic. |
| 3-1-00 |
I'm
still in Interim Maintenance II |
| 3-31-00 |
I'm
supposed to start Delayed Intensification
II, but Dr. Marcio Malogolowkin,
and other specialists review my
chart and determine I can go directly
to Maintenance. (Daddy's
note: Since Bryce's lymphoblastic
lymphoma was localized, Stage 1,
and there was not involvement with
the Bone Marrow, Spinal and Central
Nervous System there was no need
to continue with Delayed Intensification
II. Maintenance
will last 6-12 months
and Bryce will go to the clinic
once a month. He will take Mercaptopurine,
a chemo pill, daily. He will also
take Methotrexate pills every Friday
except when he is schedule to have
a lumbar puncture, every three months,
at the clinic. Doctors also have
him taking Predinsone and Bactrim.
He will be reviewed again in 6 months.)
I received
a lumbar puncture and vincristine
through my port and I was still
able to go to my Pizza Party that
afternoon. |
| 4-28-00 |
My
next scheduled clinic visit and
my Birthday. |
| 5-26-00 |
Friday
UCLA- Clinic vincristine- chemo
through port Blood work and check
up |
| 6-23-00 |
Friday
UCLA- Clinic vincristine- chemo
through port Blood work and check
up Spinal Lumbar Puncture |
| 7-21-00 |
Friday
UCLA- Clinic vincristine- chemo
through port Blood work and check
up |
| 8-18-00 |
Friday
UCLA- Clinic vincristine- chemo
through port Blood work and check
up |
| 8-23-00 |
Wednesday
Emergency Room Bryce had fever of
103, blood test and urine were negative***
arrived 9pm left 6am the next morning..*** |
| 9-15-00 |
Friday
UCLA- Clinic vincristine- chemo
through port Blood work and check
up Spinal Lumbar Puncture
|
| 10-13-00 |
Friday
UCLA- Clinic vincristine- chemo
through port Blood work and check
up
**** In addition to what Bryce received
at UCLA Clinic .April- October each
month at home Bryce was given 5
days worth of Prednisone, 6days
worth Mercaptopurine,and 1day of
Methotrexate, 8 days of bactrim***
**** Chemotherapy treatment ended
in October*** Bryce will continue
to Bactrim twice a day on Saturday
and Sunday for another year** |
| 11-21-00 |
Tuesday
Los Robles Hospital** Bryce had
fever of 104, blood test and urine
were negative..** Arrived at 8:30pm-
left at 5:30am the next morning
|
| 11-28-00 |
UCLA Clinic-
2nd floor: 9:30 - 10:45am- Blood
work, check up and Flu shot.
UCLA Clinic- 4th floor: 10:45am
1:30pm - Final spinal and Bone Marrow
aspiration ****Results
no disease in these areas****
Still needs to do MRI...Bryce was
put to sleep during these procedures
with anesthesia****
He woke up and ate 6 mini donuts,
small bag of doritos and apple juice
UCLA
Clinic-1st
Floor: 1:30- 3pm- With Urologist
Dr. Churchill Results from Ultra-Sound
shows Bryce had some bladder damage
from Chemo *** Very serious side
effect****Bryce needs to take bactrim
twice a day for a month..
Bryce takes Pyridium for pain and
needs to drink a lot of water ***
NO CAFFEINE*** |
| 12-7-00 |
Thursday
UCLA MRI TEST***
Results were inconclusive there
were some areas of concern..The
radiologist and oncologist thinks
it is scar tissue, residual inflamation,
or disease…
Most likely residual inflamation…Basically
they couldn't confirm Bryce is a
100% cancer free..
So we will reschedule MRI in 3-4
months…This was a very disappointing
result…
but we know with everyones prayers
he will be cancer free after the
next MRI…. |
| 1-4-01 |
UCLA
Clinic Blood work and Check up
appointment- with Urologist |
| 2-1-01 |
Jules
Stein Eye Institute-Dr. Demer- eye
exam Institue |
| 2-8-01 |
UCLA
Clinic Blood work and Check up |
| 3-8-01 |
UCLA
Clinic Blood work and Check up |
| 4-13-01 |
 Bryce
is 100% cancer free |
| 4-25-01 |
Jules
Stein Eye Dr. Demer performed second
Stabismus surgery to help reposition
his eye muscles so his eye stays
in normal position.
Institute Bryce has been tilting
his head so he could focus on the
object and not see double***
This was a result of the cancer
and the initial eye surgery…Bryce
doesn't have a super oblique muscle..This
controls the eye movement downward..
**** We should know the surgery
results in 6-8 weeks… |
| 5-3-01 |
UCLA
Urologist- Dr. Churchill |
| 5-17-01 |
UCLA
Clinic Blood work and Check up |
| 6-12-01 |
UCLA
Clinic Bloodwork and Check up |
| 6-28-01 |
Jules
Stein Eye Institute - Dr. Demer
eye exam, follow up to April 25th
surgery..
Everything looks good*** Hopefully
Bryce will not need anymore eye
surgery…. |
| 7-19-01 |
UCLA
Clinic Blood work and Check up |
| 8-15-01 |
UCLA Surgery to remove Port, Bryce
was put to sleep for this and woke
up hungry as a lion… Stitches
will dissolve but scar will last
a life time….. |
| 8-16-01 |
UCLA
Clinic Blood work and Check up |
| 8-23-01 |
Bryce's
bladder is healing and doesn't have
to see Dr.Churchill anymore..
On occasions he needs a Pyridium
pain pill…and he still drinks
a lot of water and doesn't have
caffeine.. |
| 9-20-01 |
UCLA
Clinic Blood work and Check up September
30,2001 last day of Bactrim for
Bryce***** |
| 10-25-01 |
UCLA
Clinic Blood work and Check up |
| 11-19-01 |
UCLA
MRI- Bryce still Cancer free…. |
| 11-29-01 |
UCLA
Clinic Blood work and Check up |
| ****
Bryce starts to go every 3 months
for Bloodwork and checkup**** |
Dec2001
,Jan,Feb 2002 |
UCLA
Clinic Blood work and Check up Had
swollen Lymph Nodes in neck need
to keep an eye on it…2/21/02 |
| March,April,
May 2002 |
UCLA Clinic
Blood work and Check up MRI results
*** Bryce still Cancer Free**** |
| 4-13-02 |
Bryce
One Year Cancer Free (Big Milestone) |
| June,
July, August 2002 |
UCLA
Clinic Blood work and Check up and
Eye Exam with Dr. Demer * Everything
looks great |
| Sept,
Oct, November 2002 |
UCLA
Clinic- Bryce's blood work, check
up, MRI and xrays were negative...
|
| 2-7-03 |
UCLA
Clinic Blood work and check up with
Oncologist everything looking good....
Met with Dr. Demer and Bryce's eyes
are fine too..... |
| 4-13-03 |
Bryce
Two Years Cancer Free (Big Milestone) |
| 5-8-03 |
UCLA
Clinic- Blood work, check up, and
MRI results negative..Everything
looking great.... |
| 7-24-03
|
Jules
Stein Eye Institute - Check up with
Dr. Demer - Everything looking good... |
| 9-22-03 |
Bryce
gets diagnosed wiht Chicken Pox
(stays home from school for 4 days) |
| 11-13-03
|
UCLA
Clinic - Bloodwork and check up..Everything
looks great.
|
| 4-13-04 |
Bryce
Three Years Cancer Free (Big Milestone) |
| 6-3-04 |
UCLA
Hospital - MRI with Contrast- 9:00am
Jules Stein Eye Institute- Eye exam-
11:00am with Dr. Demer[ Bryce has
20/20 vision & everything looks
great]
UCLA Hospital - Ecco gram - 1 :00
pm Bryce has a very strong heart
UCLA Clinic- 2:00 pm - Bloodwork
and check up with Dr. Feig [ everything
looks great]
|
| 12-9-04 |
UCLA
Clinic- 2:00 pm - Bloodwork and
check up with Dr. Feig [ everything
looks great]
***Next
Visit in one year***
|
| 4-13-05 |
Bryce
Four Years Cancer Free (Big Milestone) |
| 11-10-05 |
Jules Stein Eye Institute- Eye exam-
2:00pm with Dr. Demer[ Bryce has
20/20 vision & everything looks
great] |
| 12-8-05 |
UCLA
Clinic- 3:00 pm - Bloodwork, Flu
Shot, Scan, and check up [ everything
looks great]
***Next Visit in one year*** |
| 4-13-06 |
Bryce
Five Years Cancer Free (Big Milestone) |
| 1-4-07 |
UCLA
Clinic - Bloodwork, and check up
[ everything looks great] |
| 4-13-07 |
Bryce
Six Years Cancer Free (Big Milestone) |
| 10-11-07 |
Flu
Shot |
| 1-3-08 |
UCLA
Clinic - Bloodwork, and check up
[ everything looks great] |
| 4-13-08 |
Bryce
Seven Years Cancer Free (Big Milestone) |
| 1-3-09 |
UCLA
Clinic - Bloodwork, and check up
[ everything looks great] |
| 4-13-09 |
Bryce
Eight Years Cancer Free (Big Milestone) |
| 2-25-10 |
UCLA
Clinic - Bloodwork, and check up
[ everything looks great] |
| 4-13-10 |
Bryce
Nine Years Cancer Free (Big Milestone) |
| 4-13-11 |
Bryce
Ten Years Cancer Free (Big Milestone) |
| 7-28-11 |
UCLA
Clinic - Bloodwork, and check up
[ everything looks great] |
| 8-26-11 |
UCLA
Clinic - Echo & Cardiogram [
everything looks great] |
| 4-13-12 |
Bryce
Eleven Years Cancer Free (Big Milestone) |
| 1-4-13 |
UCLA
Clinic - Bloodwork & Cardiogram
[ everything looks great] |
| 4-13-13 |
Bryce
Twelve Years Cancer Free (Big Milestone) |
| 1-4-14 |
UCLA
Clinic - Bloodwork & Cardiogram
[ everything looks great] |
| 4-13-14 |
Bryce
Thirteen Years Cancer Free (Big Milestone) |
| 1-4-15 |
UCLA
Clinic - Bloodwork & Cardiogram
[ everything looks great] |
| 4-13-15 |
Bryce
Fourteen Years Cancer Free (Big Milestone) |
| 1-4-16 |
UCLA
Clinic - Bloodwork & Cardiogram
[ everything looks great] |
| 4-13-16 |
Bryce
Fifteen Years Cancer Free (Big Milestone) |
| 1-4-17 |
UCLA
Clinic - Bloodwork & Cardiogram
[ everything looks great] |
| 4-13-17 |
Bryce
Sixteen Years Cancer Free (Big Milestone) |
| 1-4-18 |
UCLA
Clinic - Bloodwork & Cardiogram
[ everything looks great] |
| 4-13-18 |
Bryce
Seventeen Years Cancer Free (Big Milestone) |
| 1-4-19 |
UCLA
Clinic - Bloodwork & Cardiogram
[ everything looks great] |
| 4-13-19 |
Bryce
Eighteen Years Cancer Free (Big Milestone) |
|
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How
I felt during treatment
|
Most
of the time, I feel very tired. My stomach
hurts a lot and I love having it rubbed.
I am hungry all the time and even have
to wake up in the middle of the night
for something to eat. I also have a very
yucky taste in my mouth.
I miss being with all my friends at school
and playing all of the time. I play for
just a little bit each day. I'm used to
hardly ever sitting still, and now that's
what I do the most of. Some days, I just
stay in my pajamas all day and lay in
Mommy and Daddy's bed. |
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How
you can help?
Pay
It Forward help
us raise the total
Total monies raised on behalf of Bryce through
special events, in kind donations, and his designated charities
is...
If you'd like to make a donation to help
others below are Bryce's designated charities...
If
you donate on behalf of Bryce Arenson, please reference
Bryces' name on your check.
Let us know you've done so by signing our Guestbook
so we may be able to track the donation.
Click here for more information
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Copyright © 2002
Robert Arenson
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