Say a prayer for my boxer he has Leukemia
- Thread starter riggodunick
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RiggoD,
I posted in the other thread (about the dox. treatment), and just wanted to add a little more here... I'm so sorry. I KNOW what you are feeling, believe me.... Has your vet done the MOPP protocol for Riggo?? It stands for Mustargen, forget what the O is (but whatever it is Abby didn't do it as that's what she was on in her first protocol and it failed), Procarbazine and Prednisone. That was her "rescue protocol" and it lasted about 5 weeks.
If I could offer any advice, it would be to enjoy Riggo as much as you can!!! Be strong for him! Don't let him see you upset, even though your heart literally feels like it is breaking. As for myself, I would cry every day to and from work, and even at work, but I made myself be strong in Abby's presence. Our special babies can sense how upset we are.... and why make them feel worse?
I hope that you get some good news at the vet. No matter what you are feeling, know that others have been there and we are here for you. It's going to be ok... God never gives you more than you can handle. Remember that.
I posted in the other thread (about the dox. treatment), and just wanted to add a little more here... I'm so sorry. I KNOW what you are feeling, believe me.... Has your vet done the MOPP protocol for Riggo?? It stands for Mustargen, forget what the O is (but whatever it is Abby didn't do it as that's what she was on in her first protocol and it failed), Procarbazine and Prednisone. That was her "rescue protocol" and it lasted about 5 weeks.
If I could offer any advice, it would be to enjoy Riggo as much as you can!!! Be strong for him! Don't let him see you upset, even though your heart literally feels like it is breaking. As for myself, I would cry every day to and from work, and even at work, but I made myself be strong in Abby's presence. Our special babies can sense how upset we are.... and why make them feel worse?
I hope that you get some good news at the vet. No matter what you are feeling, know that others have been there and we are here for you. It's going to be ok... God never gives you more than you can handle. Remember that.
My oncologist was more positive then I had been when I visited today. She said that she didn't think the node was enlarged too bad and that with missing a treatment last week because his counts were too low that it can get the treatment plan 'off kilter' but we should still be okay. We received a shot of Vincristine and started Cytoxan today. I hope this gives us a longer remission of his nodes. The good news is his blood counts were really good today so that probably means his bone marrow is still in excellent shape still.
We also spoke about having him neutered. I asked her about it today as I've been hearing that not having him neutered causes excessive hormones to float around his system and could have contributed to his cancer and I would imagine compromise his remission. She also spoke very negatively about lawn services. I started with one in the summer of 2003 and he was diagnosed in August 2004. You never know for sure but I'll never get a lawn service again.
RiggoD
We also spoke about having him neutered. I asked her about it today as I've been hearing that not having him neutered causes excessive hormones to float around his system and could have contributed to his cancer and I would imagine compromise his remission. She also spoke very negatively about lawn services. I started with one in the summer of 2003 and he was diagnosed in August 2004. You never know for sure but I'll never get a lawn service again.
RiggoD
AlisonJ,
Thanks for the support. Thanks for coming over to this post. As you know from experience this is such an up and down roller coaster. Yesterday I was mentally preparing for the worst. Today I am much calmer. Like yourself I try to be strong in front of him cause I know the therapy of a positive attitude in any illness but it is tough. I found myself almost breaking down on the way home from work yesterday as I was devastated that his node had become enlarged again. Today is a little better day. Guess I need to take it day by day.
PS. Are you near the Tseunami relief area yet?
RiggoD
Thanks for the support. Thanks for coming over to this post. As you know from experience this is such an up and down roller coaster. Yesterday I was mentally preparing for the worst. Today I am much calmer. Like yourself I try to be strong in front of him cause I know the therapy of a positive attitude in any illness but it is tough. I found myself almost breaking down on the way home from work yesterday as I was devastated that his node had become enlarged again. Today is a little better day. Guess I need to take it day by day.
PS. Are you near the Tseunami relief area yet?
RiggoD
RiggoD,
I'm glad that you got good news and are able to relax. I know what's it's like to live appt. to appt. I don't envy you at all and wish you both the very best. Enjoy the time that you have with Riggo and try not to dwell... I know it's hard. My husband told me that I was "burying Abby before she was dead" and I tried so hard not to... but it's difficult when you know they are really sick.
Oh by the way, what "exactly" did your vet say about a lawn service? My husband and I had a "pesticide" service done at our home once a month starting a year or so ago (we had a really bad ant problem)... After Abby's diagnosis we wondered if that may have contributed to the cancer. Won't be doing that again...
No, we are still floating at sea, a ways away from the disaster. It will be a while before we get there... Lots of time to think and heal though, so it's good therapy.
I'm glad that you got good news and are able to relax. I know what's it's like to live appt. to appt. I don't envy you at all and wish you both the very best. Enjoy the time that you have with Riggo and try not to dwell... I know it's hard. My husband told me that I was "burying Abby before she was dead" and I tried so hard not to... but it's difficult when you know they are really sick.
Oh by the way, what "exactly" did your vet say about a lawn service? My husband and I had a "pesticide" service done at our home once a month starting a year or so ago (we had a really bad ant problem)... After Abby's diagnosis we wondered if that may have contributed to the cancer. Won't be doing that again...
No, we are still floating at sea, a ways away from the disaster. It will be a while before we get there... Lots of time to think and heal though, so it's good therapy.
AllisonJ,
Thanks for the kind words and boy do I know what you mean when you say that you lived 'appt to appt'. I too am the same way and need that reassurance from the oncologist to truly feel okay about the situation.
As far as a lawn service goes she really thinks that they're bad news. She says there are numerous studies on both humans and animals that point to much higher incidence of lymphoma amongst people and animals exposed to pesticides. I am still kicking myself in the butt. There really is no conclusive way to determine what kicked the cancer in high gear I mean they are predisposed but I was very hesitant to start a lawn service and never will do one again. Think about all the grass eating that dogs love to do.
Thanks for the kind words and boy do I know what you mean when you say that you lived 'appt to appt'. I too am the same way and need that reassurance from the oncologist to truly feel okay about the situation.
As far as a lawn service goes she really thinks that they're bad news. She says there are numerous studies on both humans and animals that point to much higher incidence of lymphoma amongst people and animals exposed to pesticides. I am still kicking myself in the butt. There really is no conclusive way to determine what kicked the cancer in high gear I mean they are predisposed but I was very hesitant to start a lawn service and never will do one again. Think about all the grass eating that dogs love to do.
Thanks, RiggoD. Glad to find out that info. Let's not blame ourselves, ok. Guilt is the worst. We didn't know... Now we do and we won't do it again.
Hope you're having a good week with Riggo and trying not to "palpate" his nodes every 30 minutes. I know what that's like too! Take care.
Hope you're having a good week with Riggo and trying not to "palpate" his nodes every 30 minutes. I know what that's like too! Take care.
AllisonJ,
At the risk of sounding stupid I imagine 'palpate' means stimulate. My oncologist warned me at one point not to do this. What exactly does that mean (ie. how is it done ) and does it cause them to go up again?
His nodes went down from the treatments Friday but I still think that his right side is slightly up, just a bit. Usually when she's given him treatments they are usually completely gone by Tuesday. This is troubling and I'm glad I have an appt. at his regular vet Friday for a blood count. I hope I'm worrying for nothing.
Also what happenned that finally made your decision to take your boxer to the bridge?
RiggoD
At the risk of sounding stupid I imagine 'palpate' means stimulate. My oncologist warned me at one point not to do this. What exactly does that mean (ie. how is it done ) and does it cause them to go up again?
His nodes went down from the treatments Friday but I still think that his right side is slightly up, just a bit. Usually when she's given him treatments they are usually completely gone by Tuesday. This is troubling and I'm glad I have an appt. at his regular vet Friday for a blood count. I hope I'm worrying for nothing.
Also what happenned that finally made your decision to take your boxer to the bridge?
RiggoD
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