Cancer Free

Lumbar Puncture and lab results came back all "within normal range". Abby continues to be in remission!

MRI Results

MRI showed "no evidence of recurrence". Still awaiting lumbar puncture and lab results.

Routine Tests

Abby had an MRI of her brain and spinal cord today. Along with that she had a lumbar puncture and lots of lab work. Results will take a few days. These exams are to make sure there are no cancer cells. If all results are negative and clear she will continue to be in remission.

Still in Remission!!!

All of Abby's labs came back normal. Yeah!!

MRI Results

MRI showed "no evidence of disease". Good News! Still awaiting results from tumor maker test.

Another MRI

Abby had a routine MRI and labs today. This is the first one since being in remission. Today's MRI was of her brain and spinal cord. The blood tests included the tumor marker and hormone levels. No results yet.

The Port is out

The surgical procedure to remove the port was today. It lasted about 45 minutes and it went smoothly. Abby is home today. She will be sore for the next few days, but is allowed to resume all of her activities that she was not allowed to do while the port was in place.

Happy New Year

This is a Happy New Year indeed! We are overwhelmed with joy that Abby is in remission and is doing well. Her hair is growing back (hopefully her teeth will too soon) and she looks healthy and herself again. 2011 is going to be a great year!

Abby will be getting her port out on January 18th. The port-a-cath or "port" is a central line inserted under the skin into a vein near the heart that allowed her to receive chemo treatments. To remove it is a surgical procedure. This truly marks and ending to all the treatments. Although, she will continue to be monitored by doctors for many years to come, we take this as a very good sign. Abby will continue to have a MRI every 3 months and a lumbar puncture once a year and labs to check for tumor markers to make sure the cancer has not returned. She is not considered "cured" until she is 5 years cancer free. Along with that she will be monitored by an Endocrinologist for her hormone levels due to her low functioning pituitary and thyroid glands. Within the next few months, Cori and Craig will learn more about growth hormone injections that Abby will need to help maximize her growth potential and get through puberty.

On a personal note, I just wanted to thank you all for reading my blog and I thank you for all the love and support you have given our family. I look back at all that Abby has been through with disbelief. She has been so strong and positive and I am so unbelievable grateful that she is doing well. Her experience truly puts things in perspective and shows you what is really important.

Continue to keep Abby in your thoughts and prayers as her journey continues!

Wishing you and your families health, love and peace in 2011! Happy New Year!

Remission

Abby is officially in remission!!!!!!!!!!!!

MRI and labs are normal. It is going to be a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!!!

Abby will continue to have a MRI, spinal tap and labs every few months to make sure the cancer has not returned. Once she is in remission for one year, she will be given growth hormone injections due to her very low functioning thyroid. This will help her maximize her height potential and to get through puberty. She will be on hormone replacements medications for the rest of her life for low functioning thyroid and pituitary gland.

MRI Results

MRI results show that things "are stable and no evidence of disease". Awaiting results from blood tests for tumor markers which take a few days.

MRI an Spinal Tap

Abby had a MRI of her brain and spinal cord today. Along with that she had labs done for tumor markers. These are all routine tests to make sure the cancer has not returned. I will update the blog when we get the results of todays tests.

Dr. appointment today

Abby had an appointment with her Neuro Oncologist today as a follow up from the recent hospitalization. All is well. Nothing major to report. The cells found in her spinal fluid are white blood cells and he is not concerned about it. She has another MRI and lumbar puncture scheduled in January.

Abby had a visit from the Make A Wish Foundation this week. To be a make a wish child you need to have a life threatening illness, but you do not need to be terminal. I just wanted to clarify for those who are curious:) During the visit the ladies asked her what her top three wishes are and they would do their best to grant one. Her first choice was a puppy, much to Cori and Craig's surprise. Thankfully, they cannot give animals:) Her second wish is a Disney Cruise with her family. The foundation is working on that and they should be going within the next few months. A well deserved vacation for her and her family for all they have been through this year.

Second Test Result

Cytology results came back today and showed that the 13 cells found in her spinal fluid are NOT cancer cells. Yeah! Great news!

One Test Result

Received results from blood test today. Came back negative for HCG and AFP which are tumor markers. Good news! Still awaiting results from the cells found in her spinal fluid from the lumbar puncture.

Home Again

Abby was discharged from the hospital tonight at approx. 10 PM. Today she had an MRI and a lumbar puncture. So far we know that there is a "light" on the pituitary gland that was seen on the MRI. That is believed to be from the radiation. Her lumbar puncture had a 13 cells in it that are being sent to a lab for examination. We will not get the results of that until next week. In addition, she had a few blood tests yesterday. One showed that her thyroid levels are low and she was given meds to improve that. Another is a protein level to determine if there are any tumor markers. Results from that will take a few days. She also had an eye exam from the Ophthalmologist and it was determined that she needs to wear her glasses 24/7. She has a follow up appointment at the end of October with the Ophthalmologist.

Being admitted in the morning

I have not written a blog update in awhile. Things have been going well for Abby. She is back in school, she was feeling well, her hair is growing back and generally happy. Soon after school began, Abby had been complaining of headaches. She went home from school early a few days. It was thought that she was having headaches from adjusting to her new glasses. Within, the last week and a half Abby has been extremely tired. She has come home from school early and missed a few days of school to come home and sleep. She has taken 2-3 hour naps sometimes 2 times a day. She went to see her Pediatrician yesterday. Labs showed that she is not anemic and felt that she must be fighting a virus. Well, parental instincts felt like it could be something else. Cori and Craig were feeling anxious and worried, so Cori emailed the Neuro Oncologist today and he got back to her right away. He thought it may be a delayed response (reaction) to radiation. It is common to have these side effects months after treatment is over.

Abby is being admitted to Children's Hospital in the morning for approx. 2 nights to run multiple tests. She will have an MRI and lumbar puncture to make sure the tumor is not present. Other tests to rule out endocrine problems (hormones) and rule out hydrocephalus. Primarily they will be looking into "Radiation Somnolence Syndrome" which is a side effect from radiation.

I will post more as we get results from tests.

Radiation Ends - School Begins!

Well, it was the day we have all been waiting for - Abby had her last day of radiation and has completed all of her treatments!!!! We are all so excited for her resume her normal life and get back to being a kid. Abby went back to school yesterday and all of her friends were so excited to see her. It was a great day.

So, where does she go from here? Abby is not technically in remission yet. She will have another MRI and lumbar puncture in 8 weeks. If all is clear and normal, she will be considered to be in remission. She will continue to have MRI's and lumbar punctures every 3 months for the first year post treatment and then every 4-6 months for four years after that. A patient is considered cured after 5 years post treatment with all tests and labs being normal and no relapses. She will always be considered a "cancer survivor" and followed by doctors throughout her life. Along with that, she will always be on hormone replacement medications for the hormones her pituitary gland and thyroid gland no longer produce. These are not an affect of chemo or radiation. It was the lack of these hormones that brought our attention to her diabetes insipidus and then the brain tumor. She will most likely require growth hormone injections to help her through puberty. It is unclear and unknown what this will mean in her adult life and her ability to conceive children. Lastly, she will have another neuro psych test in 18-24 months of completing radiation to see if radiation has effected her cognitive development.

Her journey is not over, but for now we are so grateful and overjoyed that she is doing well and her progress is going in the right direction. Abby has shown a tremendous amount of strength and courage throughout this process. She is truly amazing and we are so proud of her!

Back to School Soon

Abby had an appointment with her Neuro Oncologist on Thursday. All of her counts are good, she is doing great and has the approval of her doctor to return to school. School starts on Wednesday, August 11th. Abby has made the choice to start school after her Child Life Specialist can go to her class and talk to the kids. Her CLS, Andie, was able to go to her class at the end of last year to explain to the kids why Abby is no longer in class and tell them a little about cancer and the treatment Abby would go through. Well, this year of course it is a new grade and new students, so Abby would feel more comfortable if Andie talked to the kids about cancer and her hair loss. Although Abby is handling all of it very well, she understands that she does not have hair, people are curious and want to know why. She knows that she needs to wear a hat when she is outside, but immediately takes off her hat when she is inside. She seems to not care too much about her hair loss. She has mentioned that she hopes it grows back brown like before and long enough for a ponytail:)

4 more radiation treatments to go! Almost done! Yeah!

Half Way

Abby is about half way done with radiation. 8 treatments down, 9 more to go! She is doing amazing! Abby has and appointment with her Neuro Oncologist on August 5th to find out when she can return to school. This is a big year for the Radke's. Carly is starting preschool, Mason is going to kindergarten, and Abby is going back to school!

On Saturday, September 11th the Radke family will be participating in a fundraiser brain tumor walk in San Diego. We would love for you to walk with us and celebrate Abby's victory of her journey. It is a family friendly event, so all are welcome!

://www.braintumorcommunity.org/site/PageServer?pagename=BTW_SD_Homepage

Radiation Today

Today was Abby's first day of radiation. She did great! Cori was a little nervous going into the appointment. Worried how she would do with the mask over her face. She said that Abby came out of the appointment with a smile and the imprint of the mesh mask on her face:) The treatment itself lasts approx. 10 minutes and she will have a total of 17 treatments. Monday - Friday, everyday. Saturday and Sundays off. She is scheduled to complete treatments on August 12th.

Prior to radiation, Abby got some freedom and was able to get out into society. Her counts were good, so she was able to go to Carly's dance recital and shopping!