Ok so I can finally give a bit more detail.
Joe had a scan on thursday which shows bright spots of light where there is neuroblastoma. We found out on Thursday that it looked like there might be something in his head, but there was a possibility that it could be like a smudge on the machine.
Joe was re-scanned on Friday and we had the news that there appear to be 2 tiny dots in his brain that weren't there before. One is on his brain stem. The brain stem controls breathing and heart rate and the like.
As yet, the doctors are "not 100% certain" that these spots are neuroblastoma but they do not believe them to be anything else. These new spots would show that the cancer is progressing and hasn't responded properly to the treatment.
This is, in the words of the doctors, a very very bad thing.
There is little treatment available for these kinds of things, and with one of the spots being on the brain stem it may not be treatable, or alternatively the risk to Joe may mean that we would not want it treated, if you see what I mean, if it could cause damage to the brain stem.
We are seeing the consultant tomorrow and he may or may not be able to tell us more but we fully expect the news that Joseph can't be cured. Although this hasn't already been specifically said, we know from what we know about neuroblastoma and what the doctors have already said.
This is not me being defeatist. I am not giving up on my son. This is the reality of neuroblastoma. It is the biggest cause of death in children in the UK if you discount accidents.
He loved the penguins, thanks, and thanks for the PMs too. I will endeavour to reply to them.