Thursday March 11

Fog in early AM, had morning run, fed and kenneled, gave Ginger meds, then it starts raining ... got Ginger into car and we went to Greenville for oncology appointment. Raining all the way. Ultrasound showed no change in lymph nodes, still the same. Apparently we will not achieve remission for Ginger, the hope now is for the lymphoma to remain stable (if the nodes increase she'll go into renal failure as she did to begin with). The oncologist said there is no way of determining if it's the pred keeping the nodes stable, or the very aggressive chemo drugs we've given, or, if the tumor had just stabilized 'on its own' ...discussed various other drugs with oncologist, there apparently is not that much research on using the 'rescue protocols' on dogs (like Ginger) that fail to achieve first remission, though a lot a research on rescue protocols (the more aggressive drugs) for dogs that come out of remission and want to achieve 2d or 3d remission  ... decided to try pred and Leukeran (a milder take at home chemo pill) for 2 weeks, check bloodwork locally to see if calcium level stable. (The calcium level going up again would also be an indication the nodes were growing, without having to do an ultrasound.) This is a really difficult decision,  the more aggressive drugs (which haven't achieved remission so far, but may (or may not) be what is keeping the cancer 'stable', also have such potentially dangerous side effects (which she hasnt experienced so far, but could at any time.)

I had thought and prayed about this, what to do if CCNU didnt affect the nodes, but being told it didn't was like a punch in the gut ...  Since Ginger is still doing well and has a good quality of life, I thought trying the milder drug for 2 weeks to see if she remains stable would be a good plan. Of course, this could be a mistake. There is just no way of knowing ..

Ginger was her usual lively, cheerful self, the vet and staff all adore her, she greeted everyone in the lobby (including new patients, a Labradoodle with skin lesions and a Weimereiner with lymphoma); she got an egg biscuit (she gets the egg, I eat the biscuit) on the way up and back.

Returned home, it had stopped raining, let DB,Banshee and Snoopy out, Mattie was waiting on porch, went for an evening run, then fed and kenneled everyone, giving Mattie a treat to carry home.

Again I thank you all for your wonderful prayers and support, I am sorry I haven't got better news ... BUT, Ginger is still cheerful, beautiful and loving life, so, today was a good day for her ... may she continue her dance as long as God wills.

 




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Mary Lou
DB,Banshee,Ginger and Snoopy(dogs)
Damcat
Callie in spirit (04/90-06/07)
http://marylouandcompanions.blogspot.com/
http://gingeroftheflyingears.blogspot.com/