Tumor Board Decision

Thank you all for your prayers!  Celeste still has a long way to go, but this morning she was alert, not vomiting or feverish, and even went for a walk around her hospital floor.  She is still struggling to get enough nutrition though, she has little appetite and doesn't like to eat.

Celeste was given chemotherapy all through last night, but her noon treatment today was postponed until the Tumor Board finished meeting.  Update from doctors after discussing Celeste's case again today:

- She will continue to be treated with steroids that have helped in the past to control her symptoms.
- She will be given two new types of chemotherapy that are still in clinical trials, one starting today and the other later this week.  
- Her transplant team is pursuing both a registry donor and umbilical cord blood, whichever lines up best/1st.

The Tumor Board determined that the two new types of chemotherapy they will treat her with is the best option for Celeste's cancer, considering how it has responded to previous treatments.  Since her Lymphoma has never fit into any category for type and treatment, this is the best option we have available.

Cord blood had not previously been discussed as an option because her transplant team thought they had enough time to get a donor, but umbilical cord stem cells have not been coded to a host yet and can be transplanted successfully.

Celeste's doctors are monitoring her closely during the new treatments and working quickly to get her a transplant.  Their goal is to get her Lymphoma at least in a downward trend with chemo before the transplant to give it a good chance of success.  She has faith that she can get through this!