First-grader battles cancer

Syrus Long, 6, fell ill; doctors then found tumors that spread throughout his body

Six-year-old Syrus Long has gone through chemotherapy and blood transfusions like a trouper in his battle against cancer, says his mother Kim Doak.

"He's really feisty," she said.

TO HELP SYRUS Donations can be made by check to "Friends of Syrus Long," Bank of Hawaii, Waialae-Kahala Branch, 4634 Kilauea Ave., Honolulu, HI 96816.

A team of oncologists as well as staff and students at Honolulu Waldorf School in Niu Valley are supporting Syrus in his fight. An account was established at the Bank of Hawaii Waialae-Kahala Branch to help Doak, a single mother, with finances as she cares for her son.

Syrus and his mother moved to Hawaii from New Mexico in August. Doak stopped working as an after-school aid and administrative office assistant at her son's school when Syrus was admitted to Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children in mid-October.

Syrus, who had started as a first-grader at Waldorf, went to the hospital after he suffered from bouts of fevers and pain in his legs and hips.

Doctors recently diagnosed him with stage IV neuroblastoma, a condition that affects the nervous system, after finding malignant cancer cells in his bone marrow.

Doctors found a small tumor on Long's adrenal gland above his left kidney. His mother said it spread to his skull, where doctors found two more tumors.

Syrus underwent 72 consecutive hours of chemotherapy. He also had a few blood and platelet transfusions.

Within the next eight months, Syrus will undergo five months of chemotherapy to be followed by possible surgery to remove any remaining tumors. Doak said her son will then undergo two weeks of daily radiation and a bone marrow transplant.

Syrus was released from the hospital last week and is receiving outpatient care.

Since Syrus has been out of school, a fellow student started a money jar collection to help his mother with expenses, teacher Donna Cadelinia said.