Cautious Optimism

Rosalie had an MRI of the brain and spine this morning.

We received results in the late morning that the radiologists do not see anything resembling recurrent medulloblastoma, but there is something "lighting up" in T7 (thoracic vertebrae 7).

Both Rosalie's neuro-oncologist and her radiation oncologist are on vacation right now. We knew this could be an issue going into the scan, but we did not want to give up the MRI appointment. So this morning we have been working with another attending oncologist, Dr. Nicolaides.

Dr. Nicolaides was able to present Rosalie's case at tumor board earlier this afternoon. Tumor board meets weekly on Thursdays at 12:30pm. How fortunate that we were able to have different doctors weigh in on Rosalie's case so quickly.

The board believes that T7 is showing damage from the radiation Rosalie received about a year ago. To them the timing makes sense (that damage would appear later on, not right after radiation). Apparently there are other children who have demonstrated this sort of bone damage. It also makes sense that the damage would appear at T7 since Rosalie's spine received a considerable radiation "boost" (higher dosage) to T2-T7 where her mets were.

They would like to rule out metastasis though. In very rare cases medulloblastoma has spread to the bone.

We do not have a firm game plan in place. But Dr. Nicolaides is going to get back to us and the thought is that Rosalie needs a CT scan and/or a PET scan. Dr. Nicolaides would like a PET scan because it would give us an image of all the bones. He said that metastasis would most likely show up in many places - not just one. So if this area is the only area that lights up it would give them a better sense that this is indeed bone damage from radiation.

That is where we are right now. I feel a whole lot better after having the doctors say they think Rosalie has bone damage. My mind had imagined all sorts of scenarios of what was "lighting up" in T7. You know you've been dealing with cancer when you say, "Hooray for bone damage!"

We remain cautiously optimistic that Rosalie is in good health.

We love you, Rosalie!