Hamlet's Second Chemo Treatment

Meesh · 02-10-2010, 06:06 AM

So far, so good. They did have to rearrange his protocol. He was supposed to get Vincristine this week but because one of his liver enzymes - ALT - increased after the rest reduced to normal range from last week and Vin metabolizes through the liver, they switched to Cytoxan for this week. They'll do the Vin next week if the liver panel comes back good. They also sent me home with a liver protectant - Denamarin - to give him daily for the week. They did the first dose of the Cytoxan at U of P yesterday and sent me home with the remaining 4 doses for the week. They also sent home Zofran for nausea and Flagyl for diarrhea just in case. (I asked about the Cerenia but the onc said that also metabolizes through the liver so she wanted to stay away from it.)
We have a snow day today - already 8" on the ground with at least 10 more expected by midnight - (I'VE HAD ENOUGH ALREADY!

) - so I can be home with him to be sure he's getting enough to drink and is peeing enough since they tell me that Cytoxan is metabolized through the bladder.
The onc did confirm that his nodes have all reduced - YAY.

It's nice to have the third party confirmation on that! He's still eating great and he's acting like his normal lovey self.

Michelle, Rufus & Hamlet (dx 01/29/10 tx 02/01/10)

Benpaws · 02-10-2010, 07:42 AM

Except for all that SNOW, this is all great news. Hugs to Hamlet and Rufus and keep on keeping on Michelle. Thanks for the update!

Blessings,
Joanne

TJandDante · 02-11-2010, 06:12 AM

GREAT news!
TJ

Meesh · 02-11-2010, 10:09 AM

Has anyone with a male neutered dog had a similar experience to this: Hamlet's "peen" seems to be exposed much more frequently than it ever had been in the past. Initially, it seemed to be food-related after he got his appetite back and, quite frankly, the BF and I were a little bemused thinking that he must be REALLY happy to get some food now that he's eating again. But, the past few days, it seems to occur at non-food related times. It's not that it never happened before but it just seems kind of random. Maybe I'm overanalyzing but I just want to be sure this isn't related somehow to the cancer and have it addressed. I did note it in his log I take to the oncologist and while she commented on other items in the log, made no comment next to this one. Should I be concerned about this or is this just a boy dog being a boy dog? (I grew up around all female dogs as a kid.)

Benpaws · 02-11-2010, 11:40 AM

We have only had male dogs and this has never happened to any of them or Benny who had the cancer.

I would suspect your vet wrote nothing because it is not a problem??

Maybe he REALLY ENJOYS HIS FOOD!!!LOL!

Blessings,
Joanne

02-10-2010, 06:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
Meesh Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Washington Township (Sewell), NJ Posts: 158	Hamlet's Second Chemo Treatment So far, so good. They did have to rearrange his protocol. He was supposed to get Vincristine this week but because one of his liver enzymes - ALT - increased after the rest reduced to normal range from last week and Vin metabolizes through the liver, they switched to Cytoxan for this week. They'll do the Vin next week if the liver panel comes back good. They also sent me home with a liver protectant - Denamarin - to give him daily for the week. They did the first dose of the Cytoxan at U of P yesterday and sent me home with the remaining 4 doses for the week. They also sent home Zofran for nausea and Flagyl for diarrhea just in case. (I asked about the Cerenia but the onc said that also metabolizes through the liver so she wanted to stay away from it.) We have a snow day today - already 8" on the ground with at least 10 more expected by midnight - (I'VE HAD ENOUGH ALREADY! ) - so I can be home with him to be sure he's getting enough to drink and is peeing enough since they tell me that Cytoxan is metabolized through the bladder. The onc did confirm that his nodes have all reduced - YAY. It's nice to have the third party confirmation on that! He's still eating great and he's acting like his normal lovey self. Michelle, Rufus & Hamlet (dx 01/29/10 tx 02/01/10)

02-10-2010, 07:42 AM	#2 (permalink)
Benpaws Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oakville, ON., CANADA Posts: 895	Hamlet Except for all that SNOW, this is all great news. Hugs to Hamlet and Rufus and keep on keeping on Michelle. Thanks for the update! Blessings, Joanne

02-11-2010, 10:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
Meesh Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Washington Township (Sewell), NJ Posts: 158	Slightly embarrassing question... Has anyone with a male neutered dog had a similar experience to this: Hamlet's "peen" seems to be exposed much more frequently than it ever had been in the past. Initially, it seemed to be food-related after he got his appetite back and, quite frankly, the BF and I were a little bemused thinking that he must be REALLY happy to get some food now that he's eating again. But, the past few days, it seems to occur at non-food related times. It's not that it never happened before but it just seems kind of random. Maybe I'm overanalyzing but I just want to be sure this isn't related somehow to the cancer and have it addressed. I did note it in his log I take to the oncologist and while she commented on other items in the log, made no comment next to this one. Should I be concerned about this or is this just a boy dog being a boy dog? (I grew up around all female dogs as a kid.)

02-11-2010, 11:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
Benpaws Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oakville, ON., CANADA Posts: 895	Hamlet We have only had male dogs and this has never happened to any of them or Benny who had the cancer. I would suspect your vet wrote nothing because it is not a problem?? Maybe he REALLY ENJOYS HIS FOOD!!!LOL! Blessings, Joanne

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02-11-2010, 06:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
TJandDante Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 257	GREAT news! TJ