Staging

Jon's PET results are in....there is no visible sign of metastasis. This is a huge sigh of relief. There was some uptake in the armpit nodes (2.5), but that is likely insignificant. The tumor had a SUV (standard uptake value) of 10.7. In lay terms, it lit up like a firefly...The average uptake for rhabdomyosarcomas is around 6--We need to get that malignant light bright out of there... Dr. M also sent us a confidential summary of his recommended treatment plan. The 6-page write-up was a thorough detailed plan outlining everything from chemotherapy timing/dosage to follow-up protocol. We were humbled....and so grateful. This plan has already been sent to Jon's treatment team. Dr. M's report described Jon as "well nourished"....I think part of that is due to his wife's amazing culinary skills.... Today we meet with Dr. P (chemotherapy) for assessment and a bone marrow biopsy. If the bone marrow is clear, Jon will likely be staged at Stage II, Group 1. He is Stage II given the histology (aggressiveness) of the cancer. We also received additional confirmation that Jon is in good hands. A generous and influential man in Jon's life arranged a phone call with the City of Hope CEO, Dr. Michael Friedman. Dr. Friedman assured Jon that Dr. M was the right expert to advise the case....We rest in this. Please pray for peace and mercy.