Chemo Roadmap

I discussed Kate's course of treatment with one of her primary oncologists today. I'm going to write it, as I understand it, so those of you who wish to know, will know.

The first two rounds of chemo, which Kate has completed without a hitch, were part of the Induction Phase. This phase included 3 different chemotherapy drugs: Ara-C, Etopicide & Daunorubacin. Round 1 lasted 10 days, Round 2 lasted 8 days. Daunarubacin can affect the heart, so Kate had echo's prior to each round of chemo.

Round three starts the Intensification Phase. She is now only receiving 2 drugs: Ara-C & Etopicide. Although she is only receiving 2 drugs, the intensity of the drugs are MUCH higher than they were in the Induction Phase. There are more side effects and we have to be more cautious. Round three is a 5 day course. She will have a 4th round of chemo in this phase while we wait for baby number two to arrive, and while we test the baby's cord blood to see if they are a match.

IF they ARE a match Katelyn will have approximately 3 high intensity rounds of chemo (even higher than the Intensification Phase), lasting approximately 6 days each, and will have the transplant after the third round. I am not sure if we will wait for her counts to recover or if they do the transplant before she starts building cells. I will find out. Those 3 rounds will last as long, if not longer, than the chemo she has already had as her counts will take longer to come up. After transplant it is approximately 6-8 weeks of maintenance and supervision, then she will be able to go home!

IF they ARE NOT a match Katelyn will, most likely, have one more round of chemo in the Intensification Phase. The protocol for AML (the general form of leukemia that Katelyn has) calls for only three rounds of chemo in the Intensification Phase. If she and the baby are not a match, we will most likely have one last round of chemotherapy and be done! -- I'm not sure what "done" means. We will still have to visit the clinic for labs and possible platelat & blood transfusions. I didn't quite get to that point in the plan.

I wanted to write it before I forgot bits and pieces.