What Ben Has

Although we will not have the results of Ben's bone marrow biopsy until tomorrow or Tuesday, our doctors are confident based on blood tests that Ben has pre-B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, or "ALL." If you're going to get cancer, this is a good type to get. When we were kids, just about everyone who got this cancer died. But today, the cure rate is higher than 90%. Also, there have been great advances in chemotherapy in terms of controlling side effects. Ben has been getting chemo for the last few days, and he has only thrown up once. He might not even lose his hair! (If he does, Uncle Chris and I both have committed to shave our heads -- feel free to join us!)

Here is some introductory information on ALL:

http://www.curesearch.org/for_parents_and_families/newlydiagnosed/article.aspx?ArticleId=3163&StageID=1&TopicId=1&Level=1

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/childALL/patient

You can get a lot of information if you keep clicking through the links.