(11-12-2010 10:45 AM)LRTrojan Wrote: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/brandonnichols
Please keep Brandon in your prayers...his mom Sherri posted this on CB this morning......
To all:
On Wednesday we found out that Brandon’s blood work came back showing that the cancer cells (blast in blood and marrow) are back and are very high with his white cells climbing. In other words, in a matter of 5 days from giving the latest drug it did not work.
I was hesitant to post as he was being considered for a new drug but he did not qualify for that one. As we went back on Tuesday to get his lumbar puncture we found that he needed more platelets and the cancer cells in his marrow were rising rapidly. Dr. sends us home and says come back Thursday so we can work out another plan.
Yesterday, we meet with the doctor and he suggested a new clinical trial drug which is called TH-302. This is a phaseI (one) trial which means they just started giving it to patients and don’t have much data. This drug has been is in clinical trial with other cancer but is a new study for those who have advanced leukemia like Brandon.
Matter of fact, only 6 patients at MD Anderson are on the study. And MD Anderson is the only hospital that is conducting this trial.
This type of drug is a Hypoxia Activated Pro-drug. In lay mans terms Cancer cells often have lower amounts of oxygen than normal cells which makes it difficult for chemotherapy to work against cancer cells that have low amounts of oxygen. This drug is designed to target cells that are low in oxygen and damage or kill these cells.
The dosage is really not determined as they will have to see how Brandon tolerates this. He had his first dose last night and will continue with 5 more days of doses he will also continue with his twice a week lumbar punctures with additional chemo to his spinal fluid.
I hope I have explained this ok. I know this is all confusing as it is to me as well. Brandon is fighting and I prayed Psalms 118 over him yesterday. We ask OUR LORD to take this new drug and have it too seek and destroy this ugly horrible disease that is in his body. I pray that the Lord will continue to protect Brandon’s other organs so this drug can penetrate and kill these cells.
I thank God for his blessings and still showing his Love through all of our friends and family.
I will let you all know how this is doing. Please keep praying that Brandon's body will respond and that this will be the “miracle” we are waiting for.
God Bless
Sherri.
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Brandon Nichols Update Nov. 12
