Sam is a Champion
Sam is a courageous champion! He has now endured and completed two types of cancer treatment, and is ready to take-on the upcoming bone marrow transplant (BMT). Over the past six months Sam’s treatments have focused on attacking the cancer cells within his body. He received six rounds of chemical chemotherapy between May and Oct. Over the last two weeks, following the completion of the initial chemotherapy treatment, tactics were changed to use radiation therapy against the largest detectable cancerous mass that remains in the center of his chest. The upcoming BMT will mark a significant change in strategy for removing the cancer. Instead of attacking the cancer directly the BMT will provide a long-term indirect assault on the cancer (long-term being life-long). This process will replace Sam’s immune system – removing his current native immune defenses and replacing them with a donated immune system. Where Sam’s immune system was not effective at detecting and attacking the cancer it is expected that the new immune system will. This process is not easy and Sam may face his greatest challenges to date. However, he is looking forward to completing these next phases.
There are currently 8 days until Sam receives the actual transplant. However, there are numerous steps/procedures to be completed to prepare his body for this process. This Wednesday he starts these steps.
This past week
Treatment
It is amazing to me how a short medical appointment can dominate an entire day. Monday through Friday this past week marked Sam’s second and final week of targeted radiation therapy to directly attack the main mass of cancer in his body. The actual procedure was usually not more than 15 minutes but it would dominate out entire day. Each day we would get ready, load up and head down to the BC Cancer clinic, a short drive away. Tina and Sam would check in while I attempted to find parking – there were a few days where Sam was done before I was able to park the van. Following treatment we would return to the RMH. Sam has generally felt well though with increasing fatigue. His medical team is happy with his current health: He is an otherwise healthy young man, but with cancer.
We may never know the full impact that the radiation will have on the cancer. The radiation therapy can take weeks to show measurable impacts but by that point we will be well into the BMT process. I expect next scans to evaluate the various treatments and the state of the cancer will not be feasible until into the new year.
Visitors
We were able to visit with and be encouraged by some family and friends this past week. Aunt Tricia put on an amazing meal. Uncle Cal paid a visit. Sam was able to have some time hanging out with cousin Kaden, while Tina and I visited with Kevin, Shannon, and Nana. Yesterday John, Jess, Kate, and John Jr. stopped by for a few hours. Tina was able to have and afternoon away visiting with her cousins in Abbotsford.
Upcoming
This coming week will mark a point-of-no-return as Sam will have intense treatments to condition his body for the BMT – all the gains that have been made in returning Sam to feeling healthy will likely be ripped out from under him. These treatments include:
- Total body radiation
- BMT Chemotherapy – intense chemo-drug therapy
- Immune suppression drugs
- The BMT transplant
See the previous post or The Plan for the details.
Following the BMT medical efforts will focus on managing Sam’s day-to-day health and finding the balance of facilitating successful engraftment while suppressing graft-versus-host-disease impacts. To complicate matters symptoms of graft-versus-host-disease are easily confused or even synonymous with the flu, colds, or other infections which he will also be highly susceptible to – the medical team will have to be highly vigilant.
Victories and concerns
Thankful for friends who have chosen to meet regularly to pray for Sam. If you would like to join them talk with Beth H., Krista C., or contact the Westwood Church office.
It has been amazing to see Sam out from under the influence of chemotherapy. To see him return to strength of mind and to have capacity for more activity.
We have completed a major chapter in Sam’s treatment. With the completion of this last/ sixth round of chemotherapy and targeted radiation. We now pivot to the bone marrow transplant – this next treatment brings hope of removal of the disease but also anxiety about both the challenging process and the potential for long term side effects. We hope and pray that this treatment will be effective in beating the cancer for life.
It is flu season and covid is still out there. In the weeks ahead, as a family, we will be more cautious to reduce our risk of getting ill. If any of us get sick in the weeks ahead it will add challenges to Sam and the BMT process as he will be entering a phase where he has no immune system for weeks.
We are continually thankful for our medical teams here. They continue to provide incredible care. They are always open to conversation and answering questions. They have been incredibly pro-active and I am glad we are prepared for the next steps.
Thankful that the chemotherapy has been effective at initially reducing the cancer and keeping the cancer contained (as indicated by the PET scan). Thankful that these results allow us to move forward.
In preparation for the BMT there are numerous items that need to come together:
- Due to some timing and logistics we have had to change donors. We are thankful for this current donor who will provide a peripheral blood sample and is a good match for Sam.
- We are desiring that side effects both immediate and long-term would be limited. Ideally, that there would be no measurable side effects long term.
- The medical team has a huge coordination task ahead of them. From our meetings with them it seems all of the pieces are coming together, but with so many moving parts it is easy for things go wrong.
We are thankful for the support of family and friends. Thank you for your notes of encouragement.
There is always concern as the cancer remains. We long for the day when Sam is clear of this disease.
Footnotes
Photography facilitated by the Ronald McDonald House taken by Olive and Bean Photography↩︎