Firstly, apologies for not posting anything over the last month. With Fintan currently not undergoing any chemotherapy, we have been taking the time to do some normal family things. We were able to take the boys up to Lincolnshire for a few days to stay with Fiona's parents and we also had the excitement of Fiona's surprise birthday party (her age will not be mentioned!); all the boys were able to go which made it all that more special. For those of you reading this that were able to join us in the celebrations, thank you so much for coming, it was great to see you all and we had a really good time.
It was back to business last Wednesday as Fintan was at the Royal London Hospital to have his eyes examined. He also had a basic sight test and we had the opportunity to speak to Mr Hungerford.
The good news is that the original tumours in both eyes are not showing any signs of activity and Mr Hungerford explained more about the 'new' tumours which he has been treating with cryotherapy for the last couple of months.
As the main tumours are affected by the chemotherapy they become crumbly, like chalk. Sometimes this chalk can break off and float around in the vitreous gel (the liquid which fills the hollow part of the eye) and this debris gathers along the bottom of the eye. When in the vitreous gel, the debris does not have a blood supply so is not affected by chemotherapy as this is delivered though the blood, therefore, the debris can remain active. If the debris settles on the retina it can pick up a blood supply and develop into another active tumour.
Mr Hungerford calls this condition "Vitreous Basing" and explained that it is the most difficult part of retinoblastoma to manage because it is very difficult to see the debris as it is so far round the peripheral of the eye.
The treatment is to continue freezing the affected area of the eye every four weeks with cryotherapy and unfortunately could go on for some time. In fact, Mr Hungerford could not estimate for how long and also said that he treated a girl in Poland with Vitreous Basing for 7 years! We are hoping that this is the worst case scenario.
The sight test showed that Fintan still has good use of his left eye and that he seems to be using the periphery of the right eye for detail. The orthoptist who carried out the test also seemed pleased with how Fintan was generally using his sight and said that his behaviour indicated he was seeing more than the test showed (at Fintan's age the sight tests are not that accurate as children tend to get bored easily with the pictures and are more interested in what is going on around them).
It was back to business last Wednesday as Fintan was at the Royal London Hospital to have his eyes examined. He also had a basic sight test and we had the opportunity to speak to Mr Hungerford.
The good news is that the original tumours in both eyes are not showing any signs of activity and Mr Hungerford explained more about the 'new' tumours which he has been treating with cryotherapy for the last couple of months.
As the main tumours are affected by the chemotherapy they become crumbly, like chalk. Sometimes this chalk can break off and float around in the vitreous gel (the liquid which fills the hollow part of the eye) and this debris gathers along the bottom of the eye. When in the vitreous gel, the debris does not have a blood supply so is not affected by chemotherapy as this is delivered though the blood, therefore, the debris can remain active. If the debris settles on the retina it can pick up a blood supply and develop into another active tumour.
Mr Hungerford calls this condition "Vitreous Basing" and explained that it is the most difficult part of retinoblastoma to manage because it is very difficult to see the debris as it is so far round the peripheral of the eye.
The treatment is to continue freezing the affected area of the eye every four weeks with cryotherapy and unfortunately could go on for some time. In fact, Mr Hungerford could not estimate for how long and also said that he treated a girl in Poland with Vitreous Basing for 7 years! We are hoping that this is the worst case scenario.
The sight test showed that Fintan still has good use of his left eye and that he seems to be using the periphery of the right eye for detail. The orthoptist who carried out the test also seemed pleased with how Fintan was generally using his sight and said that his behaviour indicated he was seeing more than the test showed (at Fintan's age the sight tests are not that accurate as children tend to get bored easily with the pictures and are more interested in what is going on around them).
Following this course of cryotherapy, Fintan looks like he has done several rounds with Mike Tyson, but other than objecting to the eye ointment we have to apply, he has bounced back as normal and is chasing the cat again!
...Talking of which, Fintan's crawling has come on leaps and bounds over the last month. The house is now locked down with stair gates which, together with trying to escape from Fintan, is why the cat seems to have a permanent grump on at the moment!
With that, I shall leave you with a few recent pictures and a promise to update a bit more regularly this month.
...Talking of which, Fintan's crawling has come on leaps and bounds over the last month. The house is now locked down with stair gates which, together with trying to escape from Fintan, is why the cat seems to have a permanent grump on at the moment!
With that, I shall leave you with a few recent pictures and a promise to update a bit more regularly this month.
Fintan's Toothy Grin
Ner, ner, ner, ner, nerrrr!
Who's for mashed pasta and tomato?
