Fenretinide Study - Cycle #2 almost complete

Today is the last day for Jonathan to receive Fenretinide for cycle #2.  Nothing significant to report - no side effects (that we can see) and Jonathan is 'chugging' along just fine.  You can get more information about the study Jonathan is on by visiting the NANT (New Approaches to Neuroblastoma Therapy) website http://www.nant.org/nant2004-04.shtml

Next week is going to be interesting.  Besides starting school, Jonathan is having a full re-evaluation next week.  He gets the full works - CT scan, bone marrow aspirate and MIBG scan.  A couple of weeks back I was asking the medical team to consider skipping this evaluation - I just didn't want to have Jonathan go through the hassle with the bone marrow aspirate - having to get two needles stuck in his back to withdraw bone marrow.  Unfortunately my 'request' was denied as having the re-evaluation is part of the study / protocol.

I don't expect much changes to occur in the results.  I'm very skeptical that he is free of disease (at this early phase) and I'm a little concern about the fact that they were able to see tumor cells without using the special staining tests.  I guess we'll know more in about two weeks time.