Not again (little brother's health)

[Mama_Zappa]

@Marley23

…It looks like the tumor is changing. They want to do a needle biopsy of the tumor and run full body scans, because it looks like the tumor is changing. They say it grew too fast and looks too aggressive - it was undetectable in March and is now two centimeters - so I think they believe it has changed, or is in the process of changing, from a chordoma to a sarcoma…

…But he made her promise that she’d “let him go” if that was what he wanted, and if he chose that instead of treatment after treatment. He has to at least make this one go of it, I think, but now that idea is out there in the open and we know what could happen.

Fuck, fuck, fuck

That is not a conversation anyone wants to have and if the universe were a just place, it’s not one you’d EVER have to have with a child.

I… don’t know what else to say except hugs to you and the whole family and hopes that you get far better news than you’re fearing, in the next days.

[gardentraveler]

I’m so sorry to read this, Marley! Prayers and good thoughts headed out to your whole family.

[Marley23]

@Harmonious_Discord

Chemo is a lot better than it used to be. They have better control and the side effects can be mild. Don’t get totally freaked out by them saying chemo.

I watched a friend go through chemo four years ago as a treatment for Hodgkin’s disease. It looked really rough, frustrating and just wearying. But with this amount of uncertainty, chemo isn’t really the worst of it.

[Euryphaessa]

I’m so sorry. Things like this just shouldn’t happen.

[Teaira]

I’m very sad to hear about this

[StGermain]

Marley - I’m so sorry your brother (and the rest of the family) is having to go through this again. May I ask if your parents have found employment? Is insurance an issue?

StG

[Marley23]

@StGermain

Marley - I’m so sorry your brother (and the rest of the family) is having to go through this again. May I ask if your parents have found employment?

Mom started a new job a few weeks ago. My dad’s been out of work for close to two months and i don’t think he has the stomach to focus on it right now.

EDIT: And she said they’d go through COBRA for insurance for a few months, probably.

[Nava]

Somehow I’d managed to miss this thread until now. Just a couple days ago, seeing your name in a thread, I was wondering about Tyler’s health. I wish I could do something else or send something more than my good wishes, but that’s all I have. Sorry

[The_Weird_One]

God, Marley, I don’t know what to say. I’m so sorry.

[BaneSidhe]

Lots of good vibes and get well soon wishes coming everyone’s way.

[WordMan]

I just want to add my voice to the show of support. Best of luck to your brother, family and yourself, Marley.

[Shodan]

Prayers for Tyler, your parents, and for you, Marley23.

Regards,
Shodan

[Khadaji]

I am sorry to hear your news. All that I can say is that you will continue to be in my thoughts.

[Rebo]

I’m so sorry, Marley. My good wishes and prayers are with you and your family.

[Drain_Bead]

Shit shitty shit shit.

I followed the first thread avidly while lurking, and was so glad to hear that things were looking up. Here’s hoping that this is just a momentary low point and that his doctors get control of things quickly.

[pinkyvee]

@Marley23

Mom started a new job a few weeks ago. My dad’s been out of work for close to two months and i don’t think he has the stomach to focus on it right now.

EDIT: And she said they’d go through COBRA for insurance for a few months, probably.

I am so sorry your family is in crisis.

Please don’t forget to consider St Jude Hospital where patients are accepted for treatment without regard to the family’s ability to pay. My nephew’s life was saved there.

Prayers for you and yours

[Marley23]

Some good news to share here- Thursday’s PET scan showed no tumors other than the one in his neck. So that’s very good. As far as what kind of tumor we’re dealing with and how and where it’ll be dealt with, we do have to wait. The radiologist has left for a conference and says he’ll let us know by the time he returns to work on the 14th.

[What_Exit]

Goods news is always “Good News”. I think Yogi said that.

Did the radiologist discuss what type of tumor it could be and what the different types would require for treatment?

[Marley23]

@What_Exit

Did the radiologist discuss what type of tumor it could be and what the different types would require for treatment?

When I visited them Thursday night, my brother confirmed that if it’s not a chordoma anymore, it’s probably a sarcoma. There seem to be a lot of specific types of sarcoma, so I haven’t done any significant amount of web searching to find out the pathology or anything, like I did with the chordoma in late 2006. Chemo is likely if it’s a sarcoma, but it sounds like they didn’t go into real specifics.

[Spacegirl]

Yeah! I love good news! I hope there is much more to come.