Cancer has not spread…

Carter and Brobee

Carter hanging out with Grandpa

Well, as far as the doctors can see, Carter’s cancer has not spread and is only in the liver. That’s a relief! Matt and I talked to the oncologist today at CHOC who has more of a specialty in the liver. He had been out of town since our diagnosis and we briefly met him yesterday, but got to sit down with him today and ask a ton more questions. Carter’s tumor affects three of the four lobes in the liver. His entire left lobe is tumor, and part of his right front lobe. The back right lobe is healthy liver. Our doctor is very optimistic that 60% of the tumor will shrink after 4 rounds of chemo, and that the left lobe will be able to be removed through surgery. It’s nice to hear a doctor’s optimism. The doctor will do an AFP test of Carter’s blood in about a week or two. This will be our first indicator if the chemo is working. A “normal” AFP level is around 7, most people having 3 or 4. Carter’s AFP is 270,000! This is one of the most significant signs for a doctor to diagnose hepatoblastoma. In the meantime, it’s standard procedure for the doctor’s to set-up a consult with the transplant team at UCLA. Then, if the treatment is not working, the transplant team is familiar with your case and has met you (which won’t be the case for Carter, but we will be happy to meet with the doctors at UCLA). So, it looks like we’ll be meeting with Dr. Robert Venick and his team sometime next week. Coincidentally, Rob is married to one of my good friends from high school, Kristen.

I was still banned from Carter’s room today, so Matt was holding fort. They had the physical therapist come in and work with Carter and said he is doing great. She had him up and around the room a little more, which is good for him.

The doctors are still tweaking Carter’s meds to see if they can get rid of the jaw pain so he’ll eat more. That is our biggest challenge right now. We can’t leave the hospital until Carter is eating regularly, and the doctor made reference today that maybe we wouldn’t leave until Monday or Tuesday next week. This would mean Carter would get his weekly chemo treatment while still in the hospital this weekend. The doctor also said Carter may be having issues with eating because of the chemo. The chemo drugs completely wipe out and change your taste buds. So, when Carter is asking us for yogurt and he tastes it, it’s not the taste he is used to. Now, he is just not asking for any food. We’ll have to introduce foods Carter hasn’t tasted before, so he doesn’t have an expectation for what it will be. He has always been SUCH a great eater, this is never a problem we thought we’d have with him.

Carter received a super package from Matt’s office today with all sorts of goodies, especially Yo Gabba Gabba gear. Apparently, he’s the hit of the floor with his “Brobee” singing “There’s a party in my tummy, so yummy, so yummy!” Thank you Marcus & Millichap! Also, Carter had fun hanging out with Grandpa while Matt and I met with the oncologist today. Thanks Dad!

Matt, you are doing a great job taking care of Carter at the hospital. He’s a daddy’s boy, and I’m sure it’s nice for him to have you there. I miss you guys and will be back tomorrow!