​Karen's battle with illness 2
​Chemotherapy and flare-ups

Effects of chemotherapy.

 

Karen accepted the doctor's explanation and began chemotherapy. There were some side effects such as hair loss and nausea, but the good thing was that they weren't that bad.
 

The treatment was successful, and Karen gradually recovered. I worked hard on rehabilitation and was able to walk again.

This was a result that even the attending physician had not anticipated. We had no doubts that this would lead to a complete recovery.
 

After being discharged from the hospital, I went on a trip with my family.

You can also swim using floats in the hotel pool.

Although his face was still slightly paralyzed, I think he had regained a lot of energy.
 

Unfortunately, however, the disease returned after only attending kindergarten once or twice.

 

recurrence. And the countdown begins.

 

The patient was admitted to the hospital again, and as a result of the diagnosis, it was discovered that the tumor had grown, and the final conclusion was that it was a ``typical pediatric brainstem glioma.''

The doctor's explanation about radiation therapy left us stunned.

 

"Radiotherapy has a high probability of being effective. Symptoms will subside and you will recover. However, the tumor will come back in six months to a year, and at that time the malignancy will increase. After that, there is no established treatment. ...”

 

...In short, Karen cannot be saved.

 

Karen's radiation treatment began with the hope that what would happen in six months to a year...hopefully, it would be an atypical case.

Karen did her best. Dreaming of going back to kindergarten again...
 

Normally, infants are treated by being put to sleep so that their heads do not move during the treatment, but Karen did her best to stay awake during the treatment.
 

Perhaps it was worth it, and by the end of 30 radiation treatments, I was able to see a significant recovery.

In this way, it can be said that one of the characteristics of this child was that she responded extremely well to both chemotherapy and this treatment.

For that reason, neither her parents nor her doctors could rule out the possibility of another illness. I had placed my hope in that.

 

The images showed that the tumor still remained and had not completely disappeared, but my physical recovery was back as the doctor said.
 

I couldn't afford to waste this precious time, so my doctor suggested maintenance therapy by taking anti-cancer drugs at home.

As a parent, this choice remains my biggest regret. The side effects of the anti-cancer drugs, such as vomiting, were severe and Karen became emaciated.

However, as a parent, I continued to give him anti-cancer drugs out of desperation. The vomiting significantly impaired my QOL (quality of life), and my recovery turned into a zero.
 

However, I still participated in patient group camps. Even now, the image of my daughter's profile as she gazes at the rising flames remains etched in my mind.


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