Click here for Thad's Fifth Cycle
Adam from the "Hole in the Wall Gang" visited with a friend and helped Thad to assemble several mad scientist creatures with greeting cards to match! (below). Adam is the very same Universal Genuis of Duct Tape who appeared in Thad's Second Cycle.
Thad's 6th Cycle: Updated March 10th, 2008
Thad began his 6th cycle of Chemotherapy on March 4th. This begins the last phase of his treatment, the "maintenance phase." It is intended to "maintain" the remission of his cancer. There will be a total of four of these cycles. The amount of chemodrugs he is receiving is somewhat less than in previous rounds, but his treatment is still very intensive, all the more so because his body is now weakened from the repeated doses of powerful poisons that are aimed at his lymphoma.
Thad returned home from Yale New Haven Childrens' Hospital on Friday, March 7th, but he suffered from neuropathy, a debilitation of the peripheral nerve endings caused by his treatment with Vincristine--a nasty yellow liquid he has received among the other drugs in his "cocktail." Although he has had Vincristine before, this is the first time that he has exhibited these symptoms. In essence, his nerves have been damaged and are susceptible to over stimulation akin to "pins and needles" or electric shocks. His nerves are misfiring, especially in his mouth, jaw, and gums, and he is very unhappy about it. It is, however, a transitory side effect of the drugs. Although it makes him miserable, we can expect it to go away soon.
Thad's Diagnostic MRIs
Thad has had a series of Diagnostic MRIs that now show no sign of his cancer. This means that the treatment is working. Below are some of the images that clearly indicate his progress to date.
This was Thad's first MRI on Halloween night last year. This profile looks so much like Thad, I sometimes can't bear to look at it. You can see him straightening out his neck in an awkward posture to prevent the pain. The mass between his 3rd and 7th cervical vertebrae is clearly visible.
Click here for an axial view of these vertebrae that shows the tumor disappearing as his chemo progresses.