WELCOME TO SUPPORT ALESSANDRA
What does it take to endure while your child is trying to fight and  survive cancer?  It takes Spiritual Support, Emotional Support, Financial Support and most importantly Strength.

Most people in today's society are touched in one way or another by cancer.  Whether it is a family member, close friend, or just distantly knowing someone, we are all affected.   As I have watched those closest to me battle cancer, nothing has been more heartbreaking than watching my best friend's daughter; Alessandra,  strongly battle melanoma cancer at the innocent age of two. The strength that comes from children who face these challenges at such a young age and the parents who must experience different emotions in being the rock for their children is truly amazing.

Strength can be defined in various ways: spiritual strength, emotional strength, and financial strength. I want to give Alessandra and her family spiritual, emotional and financial support to help strengthen their fight against Alessandra's cancer.  Please take the opportunity to explore Alessandra's battle against melanoma cancer and join our forum for discussions and support.

OUR greatest strength is in OUR CHILDREN. Please read on to OUR GOALS for SUPPORTALESSANDRA.com

OUR GOALS
Initially, this website was created to keep family and friends informed of Alessandra's progression and struggle with melanoma cancer.  A rarity that occurs in up to 3% of all pediatric cancers and is seven times more common between the ages of 10 and 20 than it is between 0 and 10 years of age (source: http://www.skincancer.org/Skin-Cancer-Facts ). This site also provides support to the family and Alessandra through these difficult times.  Reaching out to family members and friends will provide a network of supporters who can make a difference.  Support for Alessandra's family during such a crisis is essential and crucial.  

Equally as important was our need to reach other families who have children that may be in similar situations.  Although this may be a small and sacred anomaly, the site may serve to help others who are experiencing the same and can help via an additional educational source.  Trying to survive while your child is surviving cancer is extremely difficult.  Putting on a brave face for all of your friends, family and of course your child, while still maintaining semblance in your everyday life can seem unbearable.  That is why we are connecting friends, family, co-workers, doctors, spiritual leaders, and support personnel to better manage life while focusing on the truly important things in your life.

Our Forum is available for prayer requests and/or submissions, questions or concerns, advice from family's with like experiences and to gather information on Children's Melanoma. Any help you can provide is invaluable to Alessandra and her family as well as other visitors who come to SupportAlessandra.com for answers or other types of information.

Our ultimate goal is raising money for Alessandra and her family, bringing continued awareness to this rare form of childhood cancer.  Due to the rarity in children's melanoma, unfortunately, doctors are equally at a disadvantage of knowing how or why it happens.  This conclusion means that treatments and cures are also scarce.  We want to make the difference.

Please help get our message out.

Thank you for all your love and support!  

Priscilla Martinez

BRIEF HISTORY OF ALESSANDRA'S FIGHT AGAINST MELANOMA CANCER
- 11.2006: Alessandra was born with a congenital nevus on her back.
- 07.2008: Family members noticed changes in the nevus and immediately sought medical attention.
- 07.2008: A biopsy was done of the area that began to change within the nevus. Melanoma Cancer was confirmed.
- 08.2008: Tests were done to determine the possible areas in which Melanoma Cancer could have spread to within her body. Doctors identified that there was a potential for the cancer to go into the lymphatic system. Utilizing a specific test, doctors identified that the area where the initial tumor manifested itself lead to the lymph nodes under each arm. Surgery was scheduled immediately.
- 08.2008: Alessandra underwent initial surgery to remove the cancerious area within the nevus and as much of the nevus as possible. The procedure also included the removal of any lymph nodes, beneath the arms, that could potentially have Melanoma Cancer in them. The removed lymph nodes were sent to the lab to test for cancer.
- 09.2008: Test results come back confirming that 6 of the 8 lymph nodes extracted had Melanoma Cancer in them. A second surgery was scheduled to remove all lymph nodes from under each arm and to try and remove the remaining nevus from her back. During this surgery a Port-A-Cath was installed.
- 09.2008: Alessandra began cancer treatment with high dose Interferon Alpha 2b.
- 12.2008: Alessandra was taken to the emergency room because the family discovered a new "lump" on her back, underneath the incision scar that resulted from her previous surgeries. A third surgery is immediately scheduled for 5 days later.
- 12.2008: Alessandra undergoes her third surgery. This time to remove the "lump". Biopsy results came back positive for Melanoma Cancer. Interferon treatments continued thereafter.
- 12.2008: Brain, chest and abdomen CT scan as well as a PET scan was done. No detectable cancer in Alessandra's major organs but the scans showed three new lesions on her back under the skin. A fourth operation was scheduled for January 2nd.
- 01.2009: Surgery four was very invasive. All lesions were removed and a plastic surgeon was involved to assist in closing the incision.
- 01.2009: Alessandra experienced very high fever. Alessandra was rushed to the emergency room and doctors discovered that she had a staff infection that got into her blood, a very serious condition. Alessandra spent 3 days in ICU of the 6 days hospitalized. During the period in the ICU, additional lesions were found and doctors deemed that the Interferon treatment was not effective and opted to cancel treatments. Alternative treatment options were discussed.
- 02.2009: Alessandra is admitted into the ICU to commence IL2 (Interleukin 2) cancer therapy. She spent 11 days in ICU. Doctors continued to monitor the tumors to see if any change occurred.
- 03.2009: Alessandra was scheduled for a 5th surgery. Doctors cancelled the second cycle of IL2 as they deemed the therapy ineffctive (see the forum for a father's opinion and observations about this). A tumor under her right arm became large and was causing pain and discomfort. The tumor was removed. Discussions continued for additional cancer treatments.
- 03.2009: Alessandra was accepted into the NIH (National Institues of Health) in Bethesda, MD. She's enrolled into anti CTL4 treatments. The family discusses the treatment and makes preparations to fly to Maryland.
- 03.2009: Alessandra and family fly to Bethesda, MD to commence with anti CTL4 treatments. Alessandra received the first cycle of the treatment with no complications. After 12 days in Bethesda for cancer care, the family flies home to Texas.
- 04.2009: Alessandra and family fly back to Bethesda, MD for a second cycle of anti CTL4. Doctors postpone treatment because of the continued tumor growth. At this point one of the tumors has broken through the skin and special care is required. Alessandra is enrolled into another alternative trial treatment (not exactly but very similar to the following treatment - link http://bethesdatrials.cancer.gov/clinical-research/search_detail.aspx?ProtocolID=NCI-07-C-0176) and plans began. A 6th surgery is scheduled and done to remove a tumor for the treatment. Unfortunately it's not the tumor that has broken through the skin. Because the tumors are growing rapidly, Alessandra is given oral chemotherapy (Temodar) in an attempt to slow growth while doctors prepare for the alternative treatment. Alessandra has no immediate adverse side effects to the treatment and we continue to monitor the tumors for any growth stoppage or reduction in size. After the 5th dose of chemotherapy and 13 days at the NIH, Alessandra is now back home in Texas.
- For further developments and updates please follow this link and scroll down until you pass the redundant updates and get to the latest information.