Well, I've been pretty terrible at keeping everyone updated, so here's the latest...

Today, Aaron had pulmonary function tests. His lungs have been monitored because the Bleomycin (one of the chemotherapy drugs) can cause some changes to lung tissue. The tests showed that his lungs aren't putting oxygen in and removing carbon dioxide from his bloodstream as efficiently as it was before, but he's still within a good range. It's a good thing he initially tested way above normal. Aaron's last test showed him in the 118th percentile - no wonder that kid could run so fast. Now, he is in the 85th. His blood work looked good. His white blood count was a little lower, but still decent. Great news is that his alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin (hcg) levels are in normal range. These numbers often increase with the amount of cancer that is present, but do not necessarily mean that there is or isn't cancer in the body.

On Monday, Aaron goes in for the last treatment of the third cycle. The doctor has scheduled him for his fourth cycle of chemo to start the first week of December, which would give him a nice week off to enjoy a big Thanksgiving dinner. However, he has a CT scan on November 25th and if everything looks good, the fourth cycle will be canceled! How exciting would that be?!?!