9) Shifra again in remission

October 14, 2000
A bone marrow biopsy revealed that Shifra has gone back into total remission. Study could not demonstrate leukemic more Shifra and that means that for the sixth time! a relapse of leukemia has survived (see letter to Marina guestbook ).

Of course the worry, it is clear that Shifra again will have a relapse. Her bone marrow looks so bad that a new relapse is inevitable. According to Marina, there are three options for a possible permanent cure. First half cell transplantation because of last year actually failed. The cells of Marina are progressively replaced by Shifra's own cells. The so-called chemirisme, ratio dondorcellen / own cells, is currently at 50% donor cells and 50% own cells
And since the source of the leukemia, the leukemia own cells is always
back. The hope is that Marina's bone marrow cells to predominate over those of Shifra. But that also means that some very heavy weather Shifra treatment ahead of him without the guarantee that it or permanently unsuccessful. A very difficult decision to Shifra and her parents have. Two other possibilities are immunotherapy and genetic engineering. But both treatments are still in their infancy with high risks and unpredictable side effects. Marina has her doubts about taking over.
We keep you informed how it goes with Shifra and look for more information about genetic manipulation and immunotherapy. (See explanation on page auto vaccination in immunotherapy other alternatives )


If things in this message does not appear entirely medically accurate information is because we have the Marina itself, and it is obviously not a doctor.