Some encouraging news

Today Saskia felt much better and was allowed to go home. There is most likely an infection in or around the tumor, which should be able to be treated with antibiotics. Her neck is still very stiff and she keeps her head under a slight angle, but at least she is home!
Usually neuroblastoma develops in little children under the age of 5. When older children  (for example Saskia's age) are diagnosed with neuroblastoma, the cancer has usually developed when they were under 5 but remained undetected for a number of years. During these "silent years", the cancer could have spread throughout the body.
At this moment it looks like the cancer has not spread and it is only this localised tumour in her neck.
That the cancer is not spread within a 9-year old girl is extremely rare and a true Gods' miracle. It means that the chemo therapy does not have to be as extensive as earlier anticipated. However there is still one very important fact to be known and that is the so-called "n-myc amplification". The rate of amplification is an indication as to what extend the chemo needs to be given. We will know by Tuesday next week to what extend the tumour is amplified.
Please join us in our prayers that there is no amplification and that Saskia may avoid chemo at all!