Why am I writing this?

I have known many, many people who have had their dogs die from cancer. In many cases, the cancer was too far advanced to treat. Of those who did treat, you don't know the details of what they went through. It sounds quite simple when summarized with 'we went though chemo and he lived 2 years'. There is a whole lot more emotion and decisions to be made. Treatment is not always simple.

This blog is my own personal experience. Some days are filled with frustration, others are filled with laughter. If anyone is offended, I can't apologize for my emotions. I typed what I felt at the time. It does not mean I feel the same today. If you want clarification, just ask. No matter my frustrations, I know my vet and oncologist are doing a fantastic job of caring for Arri. He just is not co-operating by being a 'typical' case.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

January 16, 2012:

Treatment #5:   Tim and I both went to treatment today.    Last Friday, winter had arrived.  Today, it is spring again.  While the snow has not all melted, it is in the 40’s.  The other 3 dogs – Glamis, Summer and Teva - went to day care today.  At the Drs.  I asked about the welt.  Kathy didn’t know what I was talking about.  I showed her and she said they don’t inject there. We will make sure we don’t use that leg today.  Ok.  So no real answer.  Odd, he has a mysterious needle mark and took twice as long in treatment.  I’ll let it go for now and Tim will learn to ask questions.  Today’s treatment was 30 minutes, no problem.  I also needed to find out what to do if I find more lumps, talk to the oncologist or our home vet.  Answer:  The oncologist will check them for us.  Arri does have two more lumps near his collar bone.  They are too small to do a needle biopsy so I will wait to point them out.  The previous lump in similar location was benign.
We have started giving Arri his food 3 times a day.  He gets the same amount but now gets a ‘lunch’ right after treatment.  He has yet to get medicine sick or car sick so this works out well.  He was pretty glassy eyed today but by the time we got home, he was his normal goofy self.

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