Round #7

So we took Chloe in for her 7th round of chemo a few weeks ago. The days leading up to it were SO hectic. She was scheduled to go in for more scans before chemo, but somehow they were scheduled wrong and got cancelled. I was really upset, because I felt that since the receptionist didn't do his job right, Chloe's wasn't getting all the necessary care and attention she needed. I was SO nervous to meet with her oncologist, because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to control my frustration and anger, But thankfully he was so apologetic about how unorganized and crazy the scheduling had been for her. I explained the concern of not getting the scans, since I was told that she needed them. He explained that usually she would not have gotten the scans, but since she has been doing so great and her tumor has shrunk significantly, they were wanting to see if they could stop her chemo, after this round...round number 7. As I mentioned before that with neuroblastoma, only 90% of the tumor needs to shrink, and they will "monitor" the rest of it. Her doctor said that usually the body can fight off the rest of the tumor on its own, without any chemotherapy, or surgery....YIKES! I am REALLY scared about a "cancer tumor" just chilling in her chest, hoping her body fights it off. I told him this and he tried to assure me that it will be OK, and that they are very confident that her body will fight it off, but to ease my mind they said they will just go through with the 8th round they had planned on. I asked him about it not going away on its own, and he said they will keep a very watchful eye on it and if it looks like it is not, then we will try more chemo, or radiation or surgery. He said with such a small child they have to do a balancing act with therapy, meaning they want to get rid of the cancer, BUT too much chemotherapy can cause much worse side affects for her, so they try to let the body fight it off on its own when they can...
Not gonna lie, it freaks the crap out of us. When we were told our baby has cancer it turned our world upside down, but now we have adjusted to all the chemotherapy, blood transfusions, home health visits, and scans because we knew we were headed to recovery for her, now that she is almost getting to the end, and there is still a little of it in her still, we are SO nervous, probably more nervous than when we started this crazy cancer journey...I really just hope and pray she keeps being the feisty little fighter she has been and fights this. We go in for her 8th round next week, and then she does all her scans and tests that she had done at diagnosis. These will determine where she goes from here. Again thanks for all the support and prayers! We will keep you posted!!