So many ask me why Jillian must go through this final phase of treatment if she is cancer free... The answer is simply this: This disease is very aggressive and if any cancer cells are left - even the smallest amount - she could relapse. There is still no guarantee that she wont relapse even with this treatment but we must do everything we can to give her the best chance. Then there is the questions about what exactly are they giving her. Here is the description of this Monoclonal Antibody Ch14.18, Sargramostim, Aldesleukin, and Isotretinoin After Autologous Stem Cell Transplant in Treating Patients With Neuroblastoma This phase III trial is studying the side effects of giving monoclonal antibody Ch14.18 together with sargramostim, aldesleukin, and isotretinoin after autologous stem cell transplant in treating patients with neuroblastoma. Monoclonal antibodies, such as Ch14.18, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. Colony-stimulating factors, such as sargramostim, may increase the number of immune cells found in bone marrow or peripheral blood. Aldesleukin may stimulate the white blood cells to kill tumor cells. Isotretinoin may help neuroblastoma cells become more like normal cells, and to grow and spread more slowly. Giving monoclonal antibody Ch14.18 together with sargramostim, aldesleukin, and isotretinoin after autologous stem cell transplant may be an effective treatment for neuroblastoma. Right now Jilli is getting the daily shots in her leg of GM-CSF (sargramostim) which helps boost her neutrophils to fight off infection. The 4 daily infusions of monoclonal antibody ch14.18 is the painful one making her uncomfortable. We are currently in a fight with Aetna about the isoretinoin...they are denying this one and it costs $1500 for that script. And it is a very ridiculous process to go through just to get that medicine, it is time sensitive also...we have now 11 hours to go to make the ins cooperate so we can fill the script or the process starts all over. As if this is not stressful enough, right?
Posted on: Tue, 22 Apr 2014 20:15:31 +0000
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