Sydney went in for his last (5th) chemo treatment of doxorubicin (adriamycin) yesterday. As you know, he had been having some problems with getting nauseated after his 3rd treatment, but we got that under control. We now just give him his nausea pills when needed. We drove to Kansas State Vet Medical Teaching Hospital yesterday and Syd seemed to be more anxious than normal. In fact while we were waiting in the lobby, he jumped up onto my husband's lap twice (my husband said he hasn't seen him do that since he had 4 legs) and just was acting goofy. He also did the same thing to me when the oncologist came out to get him. He's never done that before and there weren't any other dogs in the lobby like there normally is. He got his bloodwork done and his treatment and had x-rays taken of his lungs. He had his first set of x-rays at his first consultation on 8-27-03 and then one set of xrays at his last treatment. And I am happy to report that they were extremely clear!!!! Yay!!!!!! Anyway, he goes back in 1 month to get a thorough exam and bloodwork done (and can get x-rays done if we wish, but the oncologist said since it was only a month since the last set, we could wait until month 3), then in 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, he will have follow up x-rays and exam. When he came out after his x-rays, there were 3 women in the lobby without their pets. Syd came out and said hello and the 2 women were just oohing and aahing over him. They asked to pet him and he went over and said hello, then came back and just planted his head in my husband's lap and was happy to see us! Since this was our final chemo treatment, I made up some little goody bags filled with candy for all the people who had helped him (receptionists, lab, x-ray techs, chemo techs) and for the vet students and oncologists who had dealt with him directly, I made up some photos in "frames" on my computer that had the text "Thanks for taking such good care of me" and signed it with Syd's name and the date and attached them to the bags. I hope they enjoyed them. They have been some of the best people up there. They have gone out of their way to treat Syd and us with respect. The oncologist (who is pretty well known in these parts) and the vet students all actually apologize profusely if they estimate the time he will be done and it runs a little behind. I have never had a doctor tell me that in all my years to taking my animals or myself for a visit. So it's refreshing there are some vets that do have compassion and care about the person as well as the animal!!!
Of course this morning, Syd now is refusing to eat his breakfast and he started to get the dry heaves again. I'm sure it's because he doesn't have anything in his tummy so I gave him some hot dogs and turkey along with his anti-nausea pill. He just wants to be around us every minute and cries if we are apart from him. I guess that usually happens about the 1st week after treatment, so I'm not too worried about it. But so far, he has made it 3 months post diagnosis and maybe 4 since my husband said he had that lump on his front wrist for about a month before I noticed it. I don't think that's true because I would have noticed it right away since Syd always offered his alternating paws to get rubbed every time I was seated anywhere. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he continues to do as well as he can for as long as he can. |
