Please see below for an explanation of HAMA--
What is HAMA?
HAMA stands for "human anti-mouse antibodies." HAMA measures how strongly the body's immune system is reacting to 3F8. 3F8, like most monoclonal antibodies, comes from a mouse white blood cell. This means that 3F8 looks different from a human antibody, and a human will form antibodies (HAMA) against 3F8. If a patient has HAMA, there is no point in doing 3F8 treatments because the HAMA will block the 3F8 from getting to neuroblastoma cells. However, HAMA can disappear, and 3F8 treatments can then resume. Patients are checked for HAMA by means of a blood test. Patients with HAMA do not have pain or other side effects of 3F8 treatment, but patients without side effects sometimes do not have HAMA (and can continue to be treated with 3F8).
6 comments:
Amy,
Glad you will be able to remain in Charlotte longer than anticipated. I'm hopeful that Grier will be ready to continue 3F8 after the next HAMA test. I know you will enjoy your time at home with all three children and look forward to welcoming Spring!
Think of you so very often and love that you have nothing to blog on a regular basis. You must be living a fairly routine and scheduled daily life...some of us think this mundane; however, I now appreciate how precious "normal" and "mundane" is.
Loving thoughts and prayers for Grier...
Love to you all!
Dina
I am happy you will have some more family time. We will pray that HAMA goes away. I think you may be eligable for a medical degree. You have learned so much.
The magnets are a big hit at First Pres. I love when I see one on someone's car. For some reason it makes me feel connected to the driver of the car. We are all on the Go Grier Go Team.
Lots of love to ALL of you,
Mary Ellen
Hey Amy!
So are you going to NYC the first week of April? i hope so because i will be there on a School field trip. Maybe I could stop by and say hello! Miss you guys lots!
Jordan Schriefer
Anne and I will be out and about tomorrow and will pick up GO GRIER GO magnets!
Mary Ellen Paine is correct, you'll soon be able to put MD after your name!
Blessings to your entire family.
Nora H. Kuester (Cody's granny!)
Hope you are all well. Think of you everyday.
Hope you are having some nice family time.
Love,
Mary Ellen
Amy and Jeff,
Mom and I were so lucky to run into your family at Dairy Queen yesterday. We walked up to get ice cream as a treat for Abby and Makenna and in walked Hayes, Grace and Grier with your Mom. It was so wonderful to see Grier, who looks great and was telling us all about baseball and how tall he was growing. And Grace and Hayes were letting us know about their baseball and soccer teams. What a beautiful, blessed family that you have. We have been praying for all of you daily. When we got home Abby thanked God for making Grier better and for his brother and sister. God is using this to teach us all things!
Love,
Shannon Deitz
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