Cancer 4Yr. Old

I have no experience with anaplastic astrocytoma, but I can offer hope. My nephew had a very fast-growing, aggressive tumor growing in his ribcage at age four. It grew from the size of a marble (when it was first discovered) to the size of a grapefruit in just a few weeks. He needed multiple surgeries before it was over. He had to have a drainage tube hanging out of his side for many, many months after the surgeries. The good news is that he survived, and is now an 18-year-old young man in very good health. He barely remembers anything about the cancer, and what he does remember, he feels it was no big deal. So, God bless you and your daughter. May she make a full and permanent recovery.

I, too, don't have any advice to offer but I just wanted to say that I will be keeping you and your daughter in my thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.

i have no advice but just wanted to say im sorry for your situation and wish you and your little girl lots of luck in the future.

you may want to contact the oncologist dept who are handling her case and get some information regarding support groups of parents. if not, contact all your area hospitals, i have seen some groups mentioned on hospital bulletin boards of smaller hospitals even. good luck again!

J.,

You may have already been told of them, but PLEASE contact St. Jude's Childrens Hospital in, I believe, Memphis, TN. They on the cutting edge of trials and research for a variety of cancers. Here is the link in regards to cancer trials. http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=0e31bf...

Here's another clinical trial for anaplastic astrocytoma, and it's at UCLA. - http://neurosurgery.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=104

All my best to you, your daughter and your family.

E.

may god bless you and your family.

I have not been in a similar situation, but I wanted to send you big hugs. I can't imagine the stress you are going through. I am keeping you and your family in my prayers.

I couldn't go on without letting you know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I can only imagine the fear, sadness, and frustration you must be feeling. All the mom's gave good advice. Be sure to take care of yourself too. Take an hour a day to spoil J.. You can't fully be there for her if you don't. Good luck and may love carry you through.

How's your daughter holding up?
How's her energy? attitude?
I agree with the advice below.
I'm sure there are various support groups
to help your family get through this.
Sending positive thoughts and encouragement.

As a mother, I just had to leave a post to say that I prayed your family is comforted and healed during this horrible diagnosis.

With much respect, M..

Yes, please call St. Jude in Memphis, TN. They are rated #1 for Children's Cancer. They treat each patients cancer individually. There is so much support. You won't need to pay either. Anything not covered by insurance is picked up by the hospital. There are donors all over the world that contribute to St. Jude to fight childhood cancer. I wish all the best for your daughter and your family.

I am so sorry. My heart goes out to you completely! I echo the other mothers' suggestions to call St. Jude AND also check into MD Anderson in Houston. They have been miracle workers for several of our family friends:

http://www.mdanderson.org/

Also get in touch now with the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation for advice and support:

http://www.pbtfus.org/

I wish you, your daughter and your family the best of luck and good health.

Another thing to check into -Proton Therapy. Ask St. Jude and MD Anderson about it. I know they were doing quite a bit of research with it last year at the University of Florida in conjunction with the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.

*****Added -look on CNN today!!!! They have video of a woman who is taking a "brain tumor vaccine"! It's still in testing, but showing great results! I would seriously start calling to see if you could possibly get your daughter into some trials for it.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2010/10/04/gupta....

I cannot imagine your terror and how sad you must feel.I can't say that I went through anything with my children like that but I myself had uterine cancer last year caught in the early stages and I have fully recovered. Hugs for and with you and your family.