PASTA wrote: Fri Apr 25, 2025 6:57 pm Yesterday marked 1 year since we saw this recurrence in an MRI. In a couple weeks I will have been on my current treatment protocol for a year. Next scan in 3 weeks.
Goddamn, I grow tired of this being my reality, but it is.

I know that feeling dude... it's the "can I please get off the escalator now please." part that gets me down sometimes. Just remember this doesn't define you and you won't always have down days.

I get ups and downs depending on my last monthly consultation. My main doctor is very dry and factual so when he gets animated and positive I know he means it. The last time I saw him he was telling me prognosis details that were super positive based on my post-one year biopsy. But this week I saw another doctor that is always a lot more negative when I ask questions. So I'm going to stop asking him anything beyond "how's the kappa light chain levels".

Currently I'm disease free, but the maintenance treatment can be really draining, so I really feel your "ugh". The fact you have to do this thing, is what gets me. I'm naturally "not a joiner" so being told I have to do anything gets me down. I'm starting a new job on Monday, a change that should be very positive. The only "ugh" is that the med team had told me I could move my fortnightly maintenance immunotherapy infusion to Saturday, but now they told me I can't. So I have to have a conversation with my new employer I was hoping I wouldn't need to have...

Ugh.

I know it’s just dog cancer, but Dottie’s variety (cellular lining of the intestine) is manageable w/ meds!

A couple weeks ago she was groggy and had pale gums. It was Sunday afternoon so the only option was the ER vet. I am 100% lucky b/c if I had waited she probably would not have made it. They gave her a couple of transfusions to keep her going, a ton of scans and finally surgery to pull out a ping pong ball sized tumor that was stuck to her small intestine and pancreas. Lucky again that there is no more visible cancer.

It took her a couple of days to rebound from having her intestine cut out but my sweet dotter is good as gold.

Oncology appointment today confirms everything and we are starting a brand new chemo medication that was tested on people and while it’s not a cure, as long as she can tolerate the side effects she can continue being my loving sweet baby indefinitely.

BTW she is highly territorial and a total bite risk around other people (scarred by my damn ex and unsocialized by COVID) so it’s just her and me (and ofc Tater Tot).

turnbullac wrote: Tue Apr 29, 2025 7:54 pm I know it’s just dog cancer, but Dottie’s variety (cellular lining of the intestine) is manageable w/ meds!

A couple weeks ago she was groggy and had pale gums. It was Sunday afternoon so the only option was the ER vet. I am 100% lucky b/c if I had waited she probably would not have made it. They gave her a couple of transfusions to keep her going, a ton of scans and finally surgery to pull out a ping pong ball sized tumor that was stuck to her small intestine and pancreas. Lucky again that there is no more visible cancer.

It took her a couple of days to rebound from having her intestine cut out but my sweet dotter is good as gold.

Oncology appointment today confirms everything and we are starting a brand new chemo medication that was tested on people and while it’s not a cure, as long as she can tolerate the side effects she can continue being my loving sweet baby indefinitely.

BTW she is highly territorial and a total bite risk around other people (scarred by my damn ex and unsocialized by COVID) so it’s just her and me (and ofc Tater Tot).

No thing as JUST DOG CANCER pal. I'm thinking of you both.

I’d never really considered there’s oncology for pets. That’s amazing. Obviously it includes the same challenges as human treatment. I really hope the meds do the trick.

Woke up Sunday with significant numbness, and impaired mobility on my left side, when it didn't improve, Leah took me to the emergency room. Had a seizure, (first in 6 years) and a ct scan. thankfully not a stroke. Was kept overnight, with a wild eeg helmet thing on.MRI yesterday. No tumour growth. came home last night with a new anti-seizure prescription, a referral for PT. my left arm is pretty week. and I have one hell of a limp. (keeping this all off social media till I get my Pop on the phone). Seeing my neurologist in the morning for more info/ come up with a plan. I imagine this is largely due to the location of the recurrence. Here we fucking GO!

any tips on cool canes?

PASTA wrote: Tue May 06, 2025 1:55 pm Woke up Sunday with significant numbness, and impaired mobility on my left side, when it didn't improve, Leah took me to the emergency room. Had a seizure, (first in 6 years) and a ct scan. thankfully not a stroke. Was kept overnight, with a wild eeg helmet thing on.MRI yesterday. No tumour growth. came home last night with a new anti-seizure prescription, a referral for PT. my left arm is pretty week. and I have one hell of a limp. (keeping this all off social media till I get my Pop on the phone). Seeing my neurologist in the morning for more info/ come up with a plan. I imagine this is largely due to the location of the recurrence. Here we fucking GO!

any tips on cool canes?

Ah, fuckin hell, dude. I hope your brain's switching station figures out some alternate neural pathways asap.

dontfeartheringo wrote: Tue May 06, 2025 1:56 pm

PASTA wrote: Tue May 06, 2025 1:55 pm Woke up Sunday with significant numbness, and impaired mobility on my left side, when it didn't improve, Leah took me to the emergency room. Had a seizure, (first in 6 years) and a ct scan. thankfully not a stroke. Was kept overnight, with a wild eeg helmet thing on.MRI yesterday. No tumour growth. came home last night with a new anti-seizure prescription, a referral for PT. my left arm is pretty week. and I have one hell of a limp. (keeping this all off social media till I get my Pop on the phone). Seeing my neurologist in the morning for more info/ come up with a plan. I imagine this is largely due to the location of the recurrence. Here we fucking GO!

any tips on cool canes?

Ah, fuckin hell, dude. I hope your brain's switching station figures out some alternate neural pathways asap.

was gonna call you later man

PASTA wrote: Tue May 06, 2025 1:55 pm Woke up Sunday with significant numbness, and impaired mobility on my left side, when it didn't improve, Leah took me to the emergency room. Had a seizure, (first in 6 years) and a ct scan. thankfully not a stroke. Was kept overnight, with a wild eeg helmet thing on.MRI yesterday. No tumour growth. came home last night with a new anti-seizure prescription, a referral for PT. my left arm is pretty week. and I have one hell of a limp. (keeping this all off social media till I get my Pop on the phone). Seeing my neurologist in the morning for more info/ come up with a plan. I imagine this is largely due to the location of the recurrence. Here we fucking GO!

any tips on cool canes?

Fuck man I'm sorry that's scary, good to hear no growth small positive - enough of my bullshit, what you want is this

https://fashionablecanes.com/products/g ... rkEALw_wcB

TylerDeadPine wrote: Tue May 06, 2025 2:16 pm

PASTA wrote: Tue May 06, 2025 1:55 pm Woke up Sunday with significant numbness, and impaired mobility on my left side, when it didn't improve, Leah took me to the emergency room. Had a seizure, (first in 6 years) and a ct scan. thankfully not a stroke. Was kept overnight, with a wild eeg helmet thing on.MRI yesterday. No tumour growth. came home last night with a new anti-seizure prescription, a referral for PT. my left arm is pretty week. and I have one hell of a limp. (keeping this all off social media till I get my Pop on the phone). Seeing my neurologist in the morning for more info/ come up with a plan. I imagine this is largely due to the location of the recurrence. Here we fucking GO!

any tips on cool canes?

Fuck man I'm sorry that's scary, good to hear no growth small positive - enough of my bullshit, what you want is this

https://fashionablecanes.com/products/g ... rkEALw_wcB

It's true that is cool but when needed I'm going straight for a wolf's head.

Nick! For what it's worth, I am thinking of you and trying to influence the universe positively in your preferred direction xo