Caitilin’s Cancer

Cancer can be an isolating disease.  Children with cancer may be isolated from their friends and activities due to the requirements of treatments and immunological concerns.  It may be especially isolating if the child has a rare form of cancer. One of these rare cancers is BPDCN (Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm).  In 2015, there was only one child in the US with BPDCN. After Caitlin’s diagnosis in June 2016, there were two.

Caitlin was a gymnast who badly bruised her ankle one day in 2015.  When her ankle remained swollen and bruised for months her parents took began taking her to pediatricians.  After several visits, one doctor finally and thankfully decided to do a biopsy of the lesion. The biopsy determined she had AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia) which was later classified as BPDCN.  After three rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, Caitlin was eligible for a bone marrow transplant that would hopefully keep her cancer in remission. She received her bone marrow transplant on January 5, 2017.

Throughout the following year, her cancer thankfully remained in remission.   Although she still requires much medical care to prevent graft vs. host complications from the transplant, Caitlin has worked hard to return to school and maintain relationships with her friends.  As a thirteen year-old girl, these relationships are very important. Often, she has treatment in the morning and goes to school in the afternoon. Despite these challenges, she makes the honor roll and is also the vice president of the school’s honor society.

This year in January, Caitlin celebrated her one year birthday, otherwise known as the one year anniversary of her bone marrow transplant.  Sugar Angel Grace Torres made a special cake and cupcakes for the event.

Although she celebrated one year cancer free, there is still a long road ahead for Caitlin to remain healthy.  As she hasn’t so far, Caitlin won’t let cancer deprive her of her friends or goals.

To hear about Caitlin’s future achievements, visit her journal at https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/caitlinherron/journal.