Hi Willow
I noticed on a Saturday evening that Max's lymph nodes in his neck were enlarged. They came up very fast. I am always touching him and had not notice anything until that night. Went to the vet Monday morning for a needle aspirate, got the results on Wednesday indicating lymphoma and met with the oncologist on Thurs and started treatment that day.
I am so grateful that my vet took it seriously and addressed the situation right away. Although, I already knew in my heart that there was something very wrong, so I was not leaving there without an answer - and I knew it was not an infection. There is little time to waste with lymphoma. I lost my stallion to lymphoma a few years ago, so I was somewhat familiar with it. I couldn't believe it was happening again.
Max started the Madison Wisconsin protocol (end of June 08). That went until early Dec. He went into remission right away. First half of the treatment was weekly, then every other week. He had several times where he had some nausea and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea and went off his food a day or two, after the treatment (usually 2-3 days later), but he would bounce back quickly. We had medication to give him to help with those side effects. He never had any severe side effects that required hospitalization or special care. Just patience that I knew it would pass and he would be OK after - almost like someone flipped a switch and he would be happy and wanting to play again. I knew when he brought me a toy that he was past the nausea. While it was upsetting to me that he would get sick from time to time, it wasn't anything that caused me to second guess my choice to do the chemo.
Unfortunately, his remission didn't last long. We were hoping for a minimum 2 months - we only got 3 weeks. So we started right away on a rescue protocol of vincristin and mustargen with oral prednisone. He has been doing well on that, with minimal side effects.
There are days when I think I can fee his lymph nodes a bit. Sometimes I think maybe I'm imagining it, getting paranoid. He gets his treatment every other week, and I'm always prepared for bad news when we go to see the oncologist, but so far he is pleased with everything, despite that he was very disappointed that the original remission was so short. He mentioned that it is something he has noticed in other Rottweilers - that they go into remission very quickly, but it may not last as long as others. Nothing certain, but just his experience from other dogs.
Max's breathing has been a little strange lately (doesn't seem to bother him, just sounds a little labored sometimes). I think it started around the time we started the new protocol, but not sure if it started right at the time or a bit before....? It's possibly from the prednisone, possibly from a growth in another organ or fluid on the lungs. During his last treatment, we did xrays to see if there was anything extra going on internally (tumors, fluid on the lungs, etc) and everything was 'perfect' in the words of our oncologist. I think he was as surprised as I was - we both expected something to be there causing the odd breathing. Not to say there isn't something in there that just wasn't visible on xray, but at least nothing obvious. So that is a small bit of good news in a bad situation.
We really just take things day to day. Try to have as much fun as we can and try VERY hard not get down about. When I feel myself getting upset, I usually go in the bathroom to cry - I don't want to pass that stress on to Max. Then I do my best to snap myself out of it and grab a toy and go outside and play. I know that he could get very sick very quickly. Maybe he'll be here for 2 months - maybe 2 weeks. Who knows. Feels a bit like we're on borrowed time, but we plan to keep fighting until he tells me he can't anymore.
During his first round of treatment, I was not as emotional most of the time. It felt like I was doing something proactive, and things were going well and he stayed in remission the entire time. Then, after it lasted so short after the treatment stopped, that's when I really started to realize that no matter how hard I fight for him - we will lose the battle eventually. A very heart-sinking feeling... but the chemo has allowed us months and months together that we wouldn't have otherwise had - and I have no regrets. I think that chemo often gets a bad rap. Likely in part because of the images we all have of humans and chemo. But it's not like that at all for us - I would do it again. Yes, some dogs have severe reactions, and yes, it can make them ill for some of the time, but for Max, it was a very small percentage of the time, and worth the risk. Trust in your oncologist and his staff are, I feel, a huge part of it.
I hope that's of some help to you. Everyone always says that I know my dog best and I know what is good for him and what is not. This is more true than ever. Only you can decide what route you want to take and know that whatever choice you make, it is the right one for your dog and for you.
I'm so sorry you have to go through this, but glad you found this board. There are some very helpful and supportive people here - all of us connected by something very sad, and very difficult, but it's great to be able to get things off your chest and know that others are as lost as I am sometimes.
Hugs to you and your pup
Trish & Maximus
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