To say the least the last few weeks have been Crappy around
our house. Just when you think it can’t
get worse, it does.
Cancer
This past Wednesday, our 5 year old Canine Maple was
diagnosed with Stage 5 lymphoma (Cancer).
It pretty much happened over night.
She was treated a few weeks ago for some stomach and vomiting issues but
seemed to be on the mend. Tuesday night her eye was all red and looked really
yucky. She also had become really
agitated and you could tell she couldn’t see out of it. I texted back and forth with my vet and
planned to bring her in on Wednesday. By
Wednesday afternoon both of her eyes were red and she couldn’t see at all. Trying to get a 65lb blind dog in and out of
the car, not easy. Anyways, first stop
our vet. He gave one look at Maple and
said she needed to go and see the Ophthalmologist at VRCC (the specialty
vet). Madison, Maple and I headed right
over there. Again, we had to put a 65lb
blind dog in the car, not easy. Once
there we waited a bit and then got in to see the ophthalmologist. They were worried about glaucoma. They examined her and gave us a prelim
diagnosis of lymphoma. Blood was in her
eyes causing her blindness and her lymph nodes were swollen. They immediately did a needle aspirate of a
lymph node and confirmed the diagnosis, lymphoma. The staff at VRCC was able to get us in with
one of the Oncologist there later that evening.
I ran Madison home and Rob met Maple and I back at VRCC. The oncologist gave us the low down- more
blood work, another test to determine T or B cell, chest xray, and suggested a Chemo
treatment to try and keep the cancer from progressing and hopefully get some of
her eyesight back.
So now we wait for results.
T cell is worse than B cell. If
left untreated Maple probably has less than 60 days to live. Based on the test results if we decide to
treat her and it is successful, median survival time is about 12 months with B
cell. With T cell survival time is less.
This is the median though and the oncologists have seen more time and
less time with both kinds. We meet with
VRCC next Thursday to get test results and most likely make a decision. Cancer treatment in dogs is not cheap. However we do have pet insurance (she is a
Labrador and we know what kind of troubles they can get into). Our pet insurance does cover Cancer
treatments but obviously not at 100%.
Hearing my 9 year daughter in the back seat of my car the
other day saying she hated Cancer and wish it never existed was a hard thing to
hear. I was trying to drive her home
while crying without her noticing on the slick, icy roads. Most of you know my 3 girls mean the world to
me. Sundae will be 14 next week. For the past couple of years we have said she
has been on borrowed time. Madison and
Maple- my babies. We got Maple back in
2007 to fill a void and to keep Sundae young, which it has. My heart is breaking right now. Maple has
been my Companion over the past year, my snuggle bug and my little love. I can’t imagine this and don’t want to. I am heartbroken today.
The good news is that Maple has responded to the first chemo
treatment. One eye appears completely
clear and the other one looks about 75% clear.
She is still eating and acting like a completely normal Labrador
retriever. That is part that is killing
me, she is acting 100% normal.
Live update (or as live as it can be while writing)- Just
got off the phone with the oncologist.
Maple has B cell (yeah), and it tested with the good parameters meaning
good success rates in treating this kind. It still doesn’t change the fact that she has
lymphoma and that we probably only have 12 months with her but it gives us hope
if we decide to pursue treatment. Cancer
treatments in dogs is different than in humans.
While the goal in humans is get rid of the cancer completely in dogs it
is more about fighting the disease and keeping it at bay for as long as
possible (in lymphoma cases around 12 months).
My Girls
Clots and Coumadin
After Thanksgiving, I developed a pain in my lower right
calf. I got an ultrasound and it was
determined that I had a superficial blood clot (basically right under the
skin). I was given anti inflammatories
and antibiotics to clear it up. Well it
didn’t. Monday, Dec. 10 I had my 6 month check up with my oncologist and well
my boobs were hardly discussed. The
superficial clot had moved up my calf to right behind my knee. The doctor took one look and said to
discontinue my tamoxifen. Tamoxifen is
my anti-estrogen which is to limit the estrogen that fuel my tumor. My estrogen level when my tumor was tested
was pretty high. Stopping the tamoxifen
is a whole other can of worms that we get to discuss with the doctor at my
January appointment. The doctors would
like you on it 5 years to help keep the cancer from coming back. I made it 11 months. Secretly I did a happy dance when you said I
could go off it (fewer hot flashes and night sweats) but part of me is scared
because in no way do I want the cancer coming back. So Monday, Dec. 10, I started giving myself
blood thinner shots. It was once a day
until I had a second ultrasound on the 13th and it was determined
that the clot had gotten worse and gone deeper.
Doctor told me to give myself 2 shots a day until Dec. 21. On Dec. 21, I started Coumadin, the oral
blood thinner. I have no idea how long I
will be on this. I go for a blood test on Dec. 26 to check my blood
and then to doctor on Jan 3 where I am sure we will get more answers. Good news is that I have been able to work
out. That has become a huge part of my
life to relieve stress and to keep myself healthy. I have had some pain with it but most appears
to be gone now.
Christmas
I’ll be honest with everything we have gone through the past
couple of weeks, it has been hard to get excited for Christmas. I know for Madison’s sake I need to put on a
happy face. This is the time of year
where we want to celebrate, the most wonderful time of year as we prepare for
the Lord’s birth.
It is hard and I know we will make it through all of this
but it doesn’t make it any easier. I
pray that each and every one of you have a very Merry Christmas.
Steph
