Colin, Michelle and Cam

Last Saturday Feb 16th  Cam was admitted to Children's Hospital; tests have found tumors in his brain and spinal cord.  The main tumor is far more aggressive than he originally thought and believes it to be a pineal blastoma. Pineal blastoma is a very rare cancer; only about 1% of children with brain tumors have this kind. 

Cam will be in the hospital at least another 7 to 10 days and then we will have to transport him to Seattle for treatment 5 days a week. As treatment continues he will develop secondary medical issues as a result of the radiation and could be readmitted, and he will likely be readmitted when chemo starts for supportive care. He will have long term health issues as a result of this treatment including thyroid issues, cognitive impairment, and cataracts by the time he is 8 or 9. Cam has tumors in his brain and spinal column, and doctor said he also saw protein and calcium at high levels in the fluid around the brain, possibly indicating a widespread disease.

Colin, Michelle and Cam’s mother Priya met with the oncologist and the radiation specialist and learned that due to the location of the lesions along Cam's spinal cord, the tumor board has decided the best course of treatment is radiation therapy followed by chemo. They are worried that allowing more time to pass could lead to permanent nerve damage so we are starting radiation treatments on Thursday. Feb 21. 

Cam will be transported to UW every weekday for the next 6 weeks for treatment. Chemo will last an additional 9 months. There will be a lot of monitoring for side effects and he will be bald like his daddy for a while.

The ambulance trips are very expensive $ 1800.00 a trip. Colin, Michelle,  Cam's Mom Priya and step dad Sam will take turns to be with Cam at all times but time off from work will begin to take Personal and Sick leave along with Family Medical Leave benefits.

This is easily a yearlong treatment and money will be a huge factor that will cause more worry for everyone involved directly with Cam’s care.