KESJ: 8 December 2010

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

8 December 2010

T+449

Jeremy's bone marrow aspirate went well today, although he was once again made to wait until the end of the general anaesthetic list because of his ESBL status. Apparently it depends on the anaethetist of the day as to whether this is an issue or not. However, he was still allowed to be in the playroom with the other oncology children, so he had a happy time playing with the cooking toys and cars - and this took his mind off his hungry tummy!.

We will hopefully know the results next Wednesday when we go back to hospital clinic to see the bone marrow transplant doctor. Thanks to all who have been praying about this for Jeremy.

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Definitions

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) - a rapidly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow. ALL affects the type of developing white blood cells known as lymphocytes. It is the most common form of childhood leukaemia, and the most common type of childhood cancer. It also occurs in adults.

Blast cells - immature blood cells normally found in the bone marrow. Blast cells normally constitute up to 5% of all bone marrow cells. These cells divide and replenish all the normal blood cells in the marrow and circulating blood. Acute leukaemia is characterised by an accumulation of abnormal blast cells that take over the marrow and spill out into the blood stream.

Bone marrow transplant - the process of replacing bone marrow cells (stem cells) that are unhealthy, with stem cells that are healthy. The healthy stem cells are re-infused intravenously through the central line, after very strong chemotherapy and/or radiation to kill unhealthy stem cells. The re-infusion of healthy stem cells essentially rescues the patient from the chemotherapy and/or radiation, by enabling his or her bone marrow to start producing new blood cells.