Lymphoma information

[2bullymama]

1/15 update -- so the short of it, us being so overwhelmed, exhausted an plain brain numb- neither me nor Lewis picked up on or remembered what the side effects of the Tanovea were.... sigh! It turns out every issue we were experiencing with Beau over the last two -three weeks was a side effect... he hit 5 of the 6 at high levels. Lethargic, loss of appetite, diarrhea which could or couldn't be can't really say either way, but it was 10x worse. When I explained everything to our oncologist, she immediately said we will not continue on this protocol. So, we are back on Elspar for this week with a recheck next week to see how he responds and then determine next steps. She is otherwise happy with how his system responded and today she asperated the one node that still is being stubborn and said all she is seeing is blood and fat cells, but never said if he was in remission. we'll know better next week.

I'll be 100% transparent, so others learn for us, PAY ATTENTION to the listed side effects!! Over these last 3 weeks, there were a couple times we did not think Beau would wake up in the morning that is how lethargic he was and the other issues were that severe. We didn't connect the dots to them being side effects, it wouldn't have changed anything, but maybe we would have dealt better or called to see if there was anything more to help him. Yes, we did take him to our regular vet to check things out, but again... two different facilities and they may send each other the "chart/reports, it is still up to us as pawents/owners to READ everything and connect those dots where you can. lesson learned!

He is more himself the past two days, even eating his normal raw food. We'll see what tomorrow brings on how he responds to going back to Elspar.

 

[2bullymama]

2/10 update – new protocol, called MVPP. On 2/1 Lambeau received a portion of this protocol to see how he would respond to it. Our oncologist did not want Beau have the experience he did with the Tanovea so we took this new protocol in two steps. 2/1 was two of the three drugs and then a recheck I a week. We returned on 2/8 with a glowing update… Beau was 100% back to normal, eating, wanting to go on walks, playing and chewing toys/bones. Beau has not touched a ball or bone since August so to see him grab a ball and want to chase it, pick up a bone and chew it, we were over the moon with happiness. This past week, Beau received all three drugs and takes one pill a day for a week along with still being on prednisone. We are three days in and he is still doing great. The one stubborn node in his shoulder has decreased in size which is progress. Poo is still an issue regardless, but his appetite is fantastic, he is still playing and chewing bones. This coming week is just a CBC check due to the possibility of white cells being impacted on this pill he gets daily. Next chemo treatment is on 2/22

 

[2bullymama]

3/10 update - last weekend was a rough one – his white blood count dropped, basically bottomed out. He ad a fever of 106, we got it down to 102.9 with a cool bath and ice packs, but within 30 minutes of being out , it shot back up to 105.9. we jumped in car to ER, he spent the night and we picked him up at 4:30 on Saturday. He was very weak and tired most of Sunday – Wednesday, but yesterday he started perking back up. Oncologist has suspended the rest of his treatment this week, so we go back on 3/15 for CBC/liver evaluation and discuss nest steps. Yes, another side effect of one of the pills in the current protocol. L

 

[Rusty’s Owner]

3/10 update - last weekend was a rough one – his white blood count dropped, basically bottomed out. He ad a fever of 106, we got it down to 102.9 with a cool bath and ice packs, but within 30 minutes of being out , it shot back up to 105.9. we jumped in car to ER, he spent the night and we picked him up at 4:30 on Saturday. He was very weak and tired most of Sunday – Wednesday, but yesterday he started perking back up. Oncologist has suspended the rest of his treatment this week, so we go back on 3/15 for CBC/liver evaluation and discuss nest steps. Yes, another side effect of one of the pills in the current protocol. L

Poor Lambeau, hope he is doing better now.