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DAVID'S PAGE 
Welcome to David's Web Page. It has been provided to keep people updated about David.David is 16 years old. He was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma Multiforme Stage IV brain tumor/cancer
May 6, 2003. Operated on 5/13/03. Began radiation and chemo (temador) June 5th, 2003-For six weeks. Took a 4 week break from chemo/finished radiation 7/17/03. Began 1 st of 10 rounds of chemo Aug. 13th/03. He is 5 days on and 23 days off. He gets MRI'S every other month with and without contrast. Dave is my hero. Thanks for visiting his site and I will do my best to keep updating!
David went through another brain surgery on May 19,2004 at Miami Children's Hospital. Unfortunately his tumor grew back in the exact same spot as last year...Dr. Ragheb, the neurosugeon, removed the tumor again and this time implanted gliadel wafers into the area where the tumor was. After visiting Duke Tumor Center on 9/9/04 with Dr. Gururangan, David was given another MRI- 9/14/04 and it looked good so Dr. G along with David's doctors here in West Palm, devised a protocol consisting of CPT-11 (chemo) infused once aweek for 4 weeks, then 2 weeks off and resume again..the other meds Dave takes everyday are: tamoxifen-the key role here is to inhibit a cell signaling enzyme called protein Kinase C, which could contribute to brain tumor growth and invasion. And Celebrex- which inhibits an enzyme called COX-2. This could keep the tumor from making new blood vessels. Tumors depend on their own blood supply to grow- so hopefully this will cause tumor cells to die. Lots of side effects with all of these, however it does not mean Dave will experience them all and at this point the doctors have agreed to be very aggressive until otherwise determined, by David. JUST A QUICK NOTE: DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY OF CELEBREX AND THE SIDE EFFECTS IT COULD HAVE DR.G, FROM DUKE, HAS PULLED IT FROM DAVE'S PROTOCOL.
As of September 8th, 2006, Dave has stopped his chemotherapy treatments. He has just had enough..3.5 years. He is now taking synthroid for his underactive thyroid, and beginning in Feb. 2007 began giving himself hgh injections as his body just stopped producing growth hormones due to his treatments. Not sure how long the injections will be or if his body will ever produce hormones..he goes to an endo doctor now and this continues to be monitored. Bloodwork and MRI's will always be apart of his life though not as frequent. We just take it one day at a time.
Journal
Monday, June 8, 2009 6:57 PM CDT David's MRI is clear! It's been five years since his relapse. Hard to believe. We are so very thankful. And thanks for all of you who visit and keep in touch after all this time. His next MRI, unless Dave feels a reason to do it sooner, will be December 2009. He will next see his endo doctor in September. So for now, we just keep moving forward. Dave has a show this coming weekend with Todd Glass at the Palm Beach Improv. Hoping he can take his acting class but his hours at Bone Fish are almost non-existant! Everything is slowing up due to summer in Florida..his brother Mike, who works there too, is having his hours cut drastically too...these two pay for all their 'needs'...gym, car insurance..gas, activities...so it's frustrating...Dave's sister is looking for work too, first time I've had all three home during the summer since they were very young!! I love having them home. Thanks for your prayers...they are working....prayers to all our CB families and friends.
www.caringbridge.org/sc/dakota
www.caringbridge.org/fl/jeffery
www.caringbridge.org/fl/kylep
www.caringbridge.org/visit/michaelhoran
www.tumbleweedfoundation.com
www.braintrust.org/audrey
Read Journal History
Hospital Information: Mail can be sent to Dave: Dave Fitting
41 Vista Del Rio
Boynton Beach,Florida 33426
Links: http://quiltsoflove.com/quilt/davidF/davidF.html
http://caringbridge.org/nj/melissa Melissa
http://caringbridge.org/tx/cheyenne5 Cheyenne
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