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Hunter JonesAmerican girl beats neuroblastoma in time thanks to dentist's vigilance
Date of Birth: 01.01.2014
Country:  USA |
Content:
- American Girl Beats Neuroblastoma After Dentist's Alert
- The Diagnosis
- The Treatment
- The Prognosis
- The Hospitalization and Recovery
- The Redemption
- The Ongoing Journey
American Girl Beats Neuroblastoma After Dentist's Alert
The Dental DiscoveryIn August 2017, five-year-old Hunter Jones of Everett, Washington, visited Dr. Harlyn Sussarla for a routine checkup. The dentist noticed an unusual number of loose teeth and suggested an X-ray, which revealed a tumor in Hunter's jaw.
The Diagnosis
A few weeks later, Hunter's parents brought her to Seattle Children's Hospital, where surgeons confirmed neuroblastoma, a cancer that develops in immature nerve cells throughout the body.
The Treatment
Aggressive chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy were used to treat Hunter's cancer. Despite the grueling treatment, she showed remarkable resilience. Her mother, Kara, was initially shocked by the diagnosis, as Hunter had no signs or symptoms to indicate illness.
The Prognosis
Neuroblastoma most commonly develops in the adrenal glands, but can also occur in the chest, abdomen, or spine. Symptoms can include abdominal pain, chest pain, dark circles around the eyes, fever, and weight loss. It primarily affects children under the age of five. Treatment options depend on the location and size of the tumor and may involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplant.
Hunter was diagnosed with Stage IV neuroblastoma, which has a five-year survival rate of around 40-50%. "We learned that the tumor had spread to her abdomen," said her father, Jay. "They also found cancer in her femur."
The Hospitalization and Recovery
Hunter spent 140 days at Seattle Children's Hospital, enduring treatments that many adults could not tolerate. According to her GoFundMe page, she underwent two surgeries, two stem cell transplants, and six rounds of immunotherapy.
The Redemption
In early 2019, Hunter's doctors declared her cancer-free. She recently visited Dr. Sussarla and gifted her a handmade card that read "I Love You."
"The fact that we found this in the dental chair, I'm so grateful for that," said Dr. Sussarla. "It helped get her the care she needed. I honestly think about Hunter every single day."
The Ongoing Journey
Hunter has enrolled in a clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, where participants receive a vaccine designed to prevent neuroblastoma relapse.
As of March 11, 2019, Hunter's GoFundMe page had raised just over $22,000 of her $50,000 goal.
