Cancer Update: Long Term Maintenance

We've made it through the previous four phases of Charlie's treatment rather well I believe, and we are THRILLED to finally be in what they call Long Term Maintenance. During LTM chemo therapy is as followed:
Once a month appointments for IV drip of Methotrexate, Pentamadine & Vincristine.
Every three months he'll have a spinal tap and chemo injected into his spinal column.
Once a week takes oral Methotrexate.
Every night he takes a chemo drug called 6MP

For the first few months the oncologists want him in every two weeks for blood counts to make sure that the meds aren't making him too low or susceptible to infection but are at the correct levels to effectively kill any remaining cancer cells in his blood and bone marrow. This cycle lasts for the next 2.5 years. We are going to have a BIG party in June of 2013! We talked to our doctor about what we should expect after LTM in 2013. Chad and I thought that we would shake their hands and go in every year for an annual check up..... yeah right! Our doc mentioned she would continue exams and blood draws at least monthly for the following year to make sure that he doesn't relapse. It slowly wans to a visit and blood draws every three months, then six months, then EVENTUALLY every year. Relapse is common in the first few years following the end of LTM so they keep a close eye on the patients.

Charlie (& Daniel) have started back at school. Charlie is in Pre (Pre)-K and Daniel is in the infant room at Primrose school at Bear creek (More on Daniel a bit later). I am picking up some contract work, at about 30 hours a week from home and sometimes at the client. It's really flexible for the times when Charlie cannot go into school like this past Thursday. They had a flu shot clinic at his school and he shouldn't be exposed to the nasal vaccine for fear of contracting the virus. I'm also more available for freak fevers and infections that arise. See next post....

We are hopefully settling into our new normal routine. Kids at school, us at work, routine doctors appointments with the same treatments that don't change all of the time. Just in time for the Holidays :) Its strange to think that we have to do all of this through Kindergarten. Charlie can't even spend the night with friends or Nana without packing a medicine bag and thermometer.... His immunity is still compromised and he will get sick easier and more often, so we have that to look forward to. His hair is starting to come in, a little fuzz here and there, but I'm not sure if it will get back to normal in the next 2.5 years considering the drugs all have the hair loss side effect. We are making the most of it, just wait for the Halloween post.