Need to start updating the blog
I've been very bad at not updating Copper's blog. I'll be better from now on! I have to gather his current medical bills, so I can't post them yet, but I can give a very good update of his progress.
Copper started Chemo again 3 weeks ago. He went through two weeks of chemo and seemed to be doing well on it. Then on Thursday night, the lymphnode on the right side of his jaw grew, as did the bump on his nose. The oncologist said that it appears the treatment was not working. She told me that it is common for dogs to become resistant to certain Chemo drugs. She gave me 2 options:
1. try the Chemo drug that made him ill last time -- it is a very good drug, but he did have a reaction to it. The hope would be that this drug would throw him into remission (or close to it)
2. Start a rescue treatment with oral Chemo drugs -- this would control the spread of cancer, not reduce it.
I chose to take the more aggressive approach. I felt that I'd be able to handle it if he became ill, and the vets gave me some anti-nausea drugs. These drugs did work last time, but I don't think we got started on them soon enough. Hopefully he won't become ill.
So far this drug is working though. The lymphnode by his jaw has gone way down, and the bump on his head looks smaller. Of course, now I think that that bump bassets have at the back of their head is growing, but that could be my imagination. I'm going to take a picture of his head and compare it to other pictures I have of him.
He has also not become ill yet. He received the drug 2 days ago. If he does not become ill by tomorrow, the chances are he will not. This would be wonderful!
The oncologist also took Copper off of the prednisone. That drug makes him so hungry he cannot think of anything else. he just follows everyone around with his nose up in the air and his mouth open (like a baby bird). We decided it was best to stop this drug because while it was helping, it was just bothering him too much.
This next week Copper will go back to the oncologist for a check up. He won't get another Chemo drug until next week.
Copper started Chemo again 3 weeks ago. He went through two weeks of chemo and seemed to be doing well on it. Then on Thursday night, the lymphnode on the right side of his jaw grew, as did the bump on his nose. The oncologist said that it appears the treatment was not working. She told me that it is common for dogs to become resistant to certain Chemo drugs. She gave me 2 options:
1. try the Chemo drug that made him ill last time -- it is a very good drug, but he did have a reaction to it. The hope would be that this drug would throw him into remission (or close to it)
2. Start a rescue treatment with oral Chemo drugs -- this would control the spread of cancer, not reduce it.
I chose to take the more aggressive approach. I felt that I'd be able to handle it if he became ill, and the vets gave me some anti-nausea drugs. These drugs did work last time, but I don't think we got started on them soon enough. Hopefully he won't become ill.
So far this drug is working though. The lymphnode by his jaw has gone way down, and the bump on his head looks smaller. Of course, now I think that that bump bassets have at the back of their head is growing, but that could be my imagination. I'm going to take a picture of his head and compare it to other pictures I have of him.
He has also not become ill yet. He received the drug 2 days ago. If he does not become ill by tomorrow, the chances are he will not. This would be wonderful!
The oncologist also took Copper off of the prednisone. That drug makes him so hungry he cannot think of anything else. he just follows everyone around with his nose up in the air and his mouth open (like a baby bird). We decided it was best to stop this drug because while it was helping, it was just bothering him too much.
This next week Copper will go back to the oncologist for a check up. He won't get another Chemo drug until next week.
Labels: Canine Lymphoma
posted by 3 bassets at 6/10/2007 01:28:00 PM
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