Evening Update

When we got back to Matt's room for the evening visiting hours, we got a surprise: a visit from Matt's oncologist, Dr. Kenneth Cohen who is head of the Pediatric Oncology department. We thought we wouldn't see anyone until tomorrow. Dr. Cohen explained that they need to do a spinal tap and test the fluid for certain markers that will determine the type of tumor Matt has. It is either a pure germinoma or a non-germinoma germ cell tumor. The type of tumor will determine the type of chemotherapy they will give him.

If it is a pure germinoma, he will get 4 rounds of chemotherapy (1 round consists of 1 week of chemo drugs followed by 2 weeks of rest). In the case of a non-germinoma germ cell tumor, he would need 6 rounds of chemotherapy. You can see that we're hoping for the pure germinoma. In either case, Matt will need radiation therapy also with the dose determined by how well the chemo works.

The chemotherapy could start as early as Thursday and they are going to move him to the pediactric oncology unit where they are more familiar with administration of the chemo. Another reason that he is under pediactric oncology is that these germinomas are more prevalent in young people so they have more experience with them. Another advantage of the pediatric unit is that the visiting hours are much more liberal and in fact one parent is allowed to stay 24 hours a day.

Dr. Cohen also told us that this is sort of "normal" chemotherapy which can be done almost anywhere so we may be able to finish the therapy in New Orleans. Dr. Cohen told us that there are some doctors in N.O. that he would recommend. Dr. Cohen is confident that he will be able to successfully treat Matt.

I know that this might seem like like bad news but we are happy to finally have a diagnosis. Additionally, this condition is treatable so we are grateful for all we heard about today.

Please pray for complete healing, especially for the nerves after the tumor is dissolved.