Pretty much everything can make James laugh. He loves sports, animals (dogs especially), and other kids. He loves parties, play dates, and climbing trees. Prior to this diagnosis, he played baseball, football, soccer, basketball, and climbed the tree in front of our house every day after school. By the time we entered Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center on August 4, he had lost the ability to walk. Thankfully he is responding to chemo and walks on his own again and just began to run two weeks ago.
He was diagnosed with Stage 4 Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma on July 31, 2017. We first noticed a lump in his groin. I thought he had a hernia. By the time we saw that lump, it had metastasized. Original site was in his calf which we never saw. He has had port implanted, double bone marrow biopsy of both hips (its 80% in his bone marrow), piece of testicular tissue removed and frozen because chemo may make him sterile. However, this was done the day before we learned his prognosis- 3 years average life expectancy. 5-6 years maximum. He is 6 years old. He is currently on 43 weeks of VAC/VI chemo & radiation protocol.
His cancer is rare and aggressive. There have been no improvements for Stage 4 Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma. He is expected to relapse 15-16 months from diagnosis. Upon relapse the prognosis is dismal since they have no other options and the cancer stops responding to chemo.
Hope session by Luxe Art Images | Facebook | Instagram