Test results on a South Surrey native battling leukemia in Texas have shown his cancer has not spread to his central nervous system as doctors feared earlier this week.
Brandon Durieux has been receiving treatment at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston since early February, after he was told by Vancouver doctors his aggressive form of leukemia was untreatable.
Durieux’s treatment was put on hold last week after he contracted a bacterial infection, and then began suffering from severe head and neck pain.
Doctors ran a slew of tests and determined Tuesday that the 24-year-old’s central nervous system did not have any cancer cells.
“I can’t even begin to tell you what a relief this is for Brandon and our family,” Durieux’s wife, Michelle, told Peace Arch News via email.
Durieux has been started on a new round of treatment with the goal of going into remission so he can receive a stem-cell transplant; he will also undergo a white blood cell transfusion within the next week.
A stem-cell donor – who Michelle described as a “perfect match” – has already been found, and the transplant is set to take place as soon as he is in remission.
“We are so thankful that he has a perfect donor,” Michelle said. “We understand that not every person is as fortunate as Brandon in this regard.”
Local efforts to support the Durieuxs financially – medical bills are expected to top a million dollars U.S.– continue with a benefit concert set to take place April 2 at Shannon Hall in the Cloverdale Fairgrounds.
For information on tickets and donations, visit the couple’s Go Fund Me page at www.gofundme.com/vzm5ejpt+
