FAQ

To make this post a little interesting I'll write it in a question/answer format. Enjoy...

How does Ida feel today?
She was pretty good in the morning, so we got to go home for a few hours. But when she woke up in the afternoon she did not want to eat, or do anything else for that matter. Now were back in the hospital and Ida gets liquid infusion because she would not eat. She seems a little better.

Does that mean you'll be going home soon?
We hope so. The thought was to sleep at home tomorrow and if everything is fine to check out of here the next day. It all depends on how Ida feels, but hopefully we'll be out of here by the weekend.

And then what?
Then we are going to come for treatment and tests once a week, given Ida is not sick.

So what exactly is wrong with her?
She has cancer that effects her blood. Cancer is a disease that cause cells in the body to over-multiply. These cancer cells do nothing but take place and resources from healthy body cells or organs. Blood cells are produced in the bone marrow, there are red blood cells (called erythrocytes, they carry oxygen to and from organs), white blood cells (or leukocytes, they protect the body against infections) and platelets (thrombocytes, which make sure the blood clogs if we cut ourselves). Normally mature blood cells are released to the body when necessary. In Ida's case, immature white blood cells are released to the blood and continue to be produced out of control. They do not protect against infections and only take place in the blood stream for healthy cells.

And is that leukemia?
That's a type of leukemia called Acute (as oppose to chronic) Lymthoblastic Leukemia or ALL.

What causes leukemia?
The exact reason is unknown, it's probably a combination of genetic, exposure to toxin or radiation and a dash of bad luck.

I have a syringe here, should I suck out some of my bone marrow and send it to Ida?
It's probably not a good idea. Bone marrow transplant is an extreme measure and is practically none existing when treating ALL, plus this kind of prosedure is better done under medical supervision.

So what can be done?
Ida has started a treatment regimen consisted on chemotherapy and steroids. The goal of this treatment is to kill as many cancer cells in her blood as possible. Cancer cells multiply much faster than normal cells, so these drugs target fast-multiplying cells and kill them once they try to divide themselves.

Sound easy enough, what's the catch?
Well, the main problem is to get to all defected cells, otherwise the disease reoccurs. Different drugs are used over different periods, their effect is different too - some kill rapid multiplying cells while other alter DNA, for example.
Besides, cancer cells are not the only fast multiplying cells in the body. Cells that create hair multiply fast. The drugs cannot target specific cells but kill all fast multiplying cells, that's why Ida is going to lose her beautiful hair soon enough. Other side effects like nausea, blisters in the mouth (where cells also multiply rapidly) and tiredness are going to effect little Ida.
And like always in medicine, it's all depend on how Ida reacts to the various drugs.

Now that sounds pretty shitty, how long does the treatment regimen lasts?
About 2.5 years.

Is she going to be OK?
8 out of 10 children who have ALL are disease free by the end of the treatment.

Is there anything I can do?
Stay updated, stay in touch and have Ida in your prayers and thoughts. Those of you who are able - support cancer research, particularly cancer among children. The Swedish Children Cancer Fond would help Ida the most...