Ashley Cain's Daughter's Cancer Battle
- Former pro soccer player and star of The Challenge, Ashley Cain, 30, has been sharing his 5-month-old daughter Azalyia’s leukemia battle and treatment with the world.
- After three rounds of chemo, Azalyia got a stem cell transplant; this type of transplant may be an additional treatment option following other treatments, like chemotherapy.
- It can help, when coping with a child's cancer diagnosis, to have a strong support network, to lean on one's faith if that’s something you believe in, and to use therapy as a means to talk things out.
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And this week, the soccer star shared some amazing news; Azalyia received a stem cell transplant! Cain wrote of the transplant: “Today was by far the biggest day of our lives. One that we have been hoping, wishing and praying for. The day Azaylia received her stem cell transplant and begins the toughest journey imaginable to save her precious life! We believe in you princess. You are strong, you are mighty, you are courageous and God is with you! You got this Likkle Lion. We love you!”
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What Are Stem Cell Transplants?
Little Azaylia thankfully found a stem cell match and a willing donor, so she was able to undergo a stem cell transplant. “It's hard to put into words how grateful we're are for everyone that's supported, shared and registered to be a donor to help save Azaylia's life. Thank you to EVERYONE!,” Cain wrote.
After the baby’s second round of chemo, Azalyia’s leukemia returned, and Cain classified her cancer as “aggressive,” and cited the transplant as “crucial.” He said that due to his daughter’s age and the aggressiveness of her cancer, “she is in the high risk category for transplant complications and the poor risk category for transplant success.”
Related: Could an Imaging Test Predict How Well You'll Respond to a Stem Cell Transplant?
Stem cell transplants are among the treatment options for some types of cancer. A transplant may be recommended at the beginning of treatment. But, more commonly, a transplant is recommended after chemotherapy (or other treatments) if the disease hasn’t responded well to treatment, or after a relapse. Stem cells are the cells in bone marrow that produce blood and immune system cells.
Dr. Caitlin Costello, a Hematologist-Oncologist at UC San Diego Health, said in a previous interview that several factors come into play when deciding if a person is a good candidate for a stem cell transplant. “The things we consider for patients who may need an autologous stem cell transplant is number one their disease. There are some diseases for which this works better than others.”
Related: After a Stem Cell Transplant: Recovery and Side Effects
Dr. Costello said that this transplant is more common for some disease than others. “It’s most commonly used in relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, but there are other lymphomas, mantle cell lymphoma for whom which patients oftentimes get and I’ll autologous stem cell transplant as soon as they achieve remission. Or something close to it.”
Depending on how well other treatments work or don’t work, a transplant may be considered an option. “There are more low grade lymphomas for whom which patients who have a more aggressive disease course or a poorer response to treatment that may require it or may be recommended to undergo autologous stem cell transplant as well. So partly first question is what is your disease, and would you benefit from it. When understanding next who is an eligible candidate for it, we want to understand really your body’s health.”
Is a Stem Cell Transplant Right for You?
Coping with a Child’s Cancer Diagnosis
We’re happy to see that Cain is leaning on others, like his social media community, for strength and support during this time. Being vulnerable during the cancer journey as a parent or a person battling cancer, and sharing your experience with others is helpful both ways; it brings others to you, and brings you closer to them, too.
Related: A Major Step in the Cancer Journey: Learning to Deal With Vulnerability
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Cain has also alluded to his faith and his spirituality, repeatedly asking people to pray for Azalyia as she battles leukemia. For a parent, coping with a child’s cancer diagnosis is emotionally heavy work, and leaning on friends, spirituality, and resources like therapy, can be hugely beneifcial. Camila Legaspi was in high school when her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, and she credits therapy for saving her during that time.
Related: 'I Wanted to Keep Things with My Kids as Normal as Possible' Lisa Schaible Survivor Story
In a previous interview, Legaspi said, “Therapy saved my life. I was dealing with some really intense anxiety and depression at that point. It just changed my life, because I was so drained by all the negativity that was going on. Going to a therapist helped me realize that there was still so much out there for me, that I still had my family, that I still had my siblings.”
"Therapy Saved My Life": After Losing A Loved One, Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help
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