Treatment Plan

Zander's cancer treatment is following a well-established protocol for childhood leukemia and consists of three primary phases. Here’s a breakdown of each phase and what we’ve experienced so far:

1. Induction

The goal of the induction phase is to destroy the majority of the leukemia cells and put the patient into remission. This phase typically lasts around five weeks, and the progress is closely monitored through frequent blood draws and lumbar punctures. Zander has just completed this phase, which included a combination of chemotherapy drugs and steroids. 

Unfortunately, SuperZan did not achieve a complete remission at the end of Induction. A bone marrow biopsy showed 4% of the cells in his marrow were leukemia blasts (compared to nearly 100% at diagnosis.) He will soon begin a cycle of immunotherapy called Blinatumomab that will aim to clear the remaining leukemia blasts and induce a complete remission.

2. Consolidation (Intensification)

Once remission is achieved, the consolidation phase aims to eliminate any trace amounts of lingering leukemia cells and prevent future relapse. This phase is more intense and often involves additional chemotherapy given in stronger doses, and sometimes even stem cell transplants for high-risk patients like Zander. We aren’t there yet, but this phase typically lasts a few months.

3. Maintenance

After consolidation, the maintenance phase focuses on keeping the leukemia in remission over a period of years. The treatments are less intense but ongoing, and they generally include oral medications and monthly IV chemo infusions. Maintenance can last 2 to 3 years, with regular check-ups to monitor for early signs of a potential relapse. 

Source:
Treatment of Children with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) | American Cancer Society