As many of you know, Justin, St. Baldrick’s Foundation 2012 Ambassador Kid, is battling childhood cancer for the fifth time. His family has decided to move forward with MIBG therapy, an up-and-coming treatment for advanced-stage neuroblastoma. He started this therapy today at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
MIBG is a form of radiation therapy that is safer than traditional radiation because it can deliver the radiation directly to the tumor. This means that all other healthy tissues in his body will receive minimal exposure.
After Justin receives his MIBG dose, delivered through an infusion over a couple of hours, he must stay in a lead-lined room, alone, for approximately three or four days until his radioactive levels have lowered. This is the most challenging part of the treatment!
“We can see him over the shield,” said Lori, Justin’s mother. “But no touching or cuddling, he is pretty much on his own.”
Justin is prepared for this isolation – he has the entire Harry Potter movie series with him and will be watching from beginning to end! (Who says Harry Potter can’t fight cancer?)
Click here for up-to-date information about Justin’s progress with MIBG.
If you’re eager to learn more about MIBG, click here to read “What is MIBG Therapy?” You’ll get an inside look at MIBG, and two St. Baldrick’s grants which helped establish an MIBG program at Duke University.
Lastly, if you haven’t “met” Justin yet, here’s a great glimpse into his story. Yes, this boy LOVES Legos:
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