The Treatment Plan: A Short Primer

The following is condensed from the Informed Consent and Information Form:

Standard treatment for ependymoma includes surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible, and radiation therapy.

Previous experience has shown that patients do better when ependymoma is completely removed surgically. Henry's treatment plan will include chemotherapy to shrink that part of the tumor not removed in the previous surgery. Henry will then undergo a second surgery to remove more tumor.

This is a list of drugs that will be given. It is an approximate plan and may be altered if Henry has some serious side effect.

Cycle A: Cycle A is 3 weeks long [Cycle A begun on Tues, August 22 - Dad]. All drugs administered intravenously via porta-cath unless noted.

DRUGS:
Vincristine, given on day 1 [Aug 22] and day 8 [Aug 29]
Carboplatin, given on day 1
Cyclophosphamide, given on days 1 and 2, followed by
Mesna, given to protect the bladder from effects of Cyclophosphamide, and
Filgrastim, to help the body recover.

Cycle B: Cycle B will last about 4 weeks and will start when Henry recovers from cycle A [Scheduled for Tuesday, September 12 - Dad]. All drugs administered intravenously via porta-cath unless noted.

DRUGS:
Vincristine, given on day 1 [Sep 12] and day 8 [Sep 19]
Carboplatin, given on day 1
Etopside, given by mouth every day, days 1-21 [Sep 12 - October 2].

After the chemotherapy cycles are completed, Henry will be evaluated for a second surgery [the MRI has been scheduled for Tuedsay, October 10 at 11:00 am. We then meet with our neurologist, Dr. T, at 1:45pm - Dad]. Henry will then be scheduled for a second surgery to attempt to remove the remaining tumor.

Once Henry has recovered from the surgical procedure, we will proceed to radiation therapy. Radiation therapy will be given to the brain once a day, 5 days a week. The total number of radiation therapy days will depend on the amount of tumor remaining after surgery, as well as Henry's age. Most patients receive a total of 33 treatments. Each treatment will take 20 minutes to an hour.