[PyrNet-L] Lymphoma/Clondike Update

[David P Kintsfather Jr <kintsfat@kutztown.edu>]

Clondike is an 11 year-old Pyr bitch diagnosed with lymphoma in May.  We
did chemotherapy over the summer and she was in full remission until the
beginning of December, when we started a second round of chemo.

Clondike nearly died from Adriamycin during the first cycle of chemo and
we did not repeat it as scheduled during the summer.  Since it is the gold
standard for lymphoma, we are not optimistic about getting a full
remission without it, but are more concerned about quality of life than
quantity at this point.

Today we had 2 better than expected veterinary reports.  Our primary care
vet said Clondike's lymph nodes are only slightly more enlarged than a
week and a half ago and an x-ray showed no tumors in any major organs.
Clondike's heart and lungs seem to be doing well, but she has been
throwing up since stealing some cat food on Christmas Eve.  This makes the
use of Cytoxan, a drug she gets moderately sick on, very questionable.

We then went to the oncologist and she feels that Clondike is responding
well enough to the drugs that delaying Cytoxan a week to allow her GI
tract to settle down is not too big a risk.  She also indicated there are
other chemo agents we can try that may be better tolerated, but she likes
to reserve these until there is less response to the "first line drugs."

The bottom line is we are a little more upbeat and feel that we may be
looking at a few more months with Clondike rather than a few more weeks.
Clondike's appetite continues unabated by the nausea and shortly after
throwing up the cat food she was licking the outside of the oven for
turkey juice.  She also continues to throw her ChewBear around the
livingroom and chase me around the recliner.

Thanks again for all the kind thoughts and prayers.  They are most
appreciated!

David, Nancy and Clondike (who missed the Christmas brussels sprouts
because of the cat food incident) 

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 David Kintsfather              | PHONE:       (610) 683-4497
 Dept. of Telecommunications    | FAX:         (610) 683-4659
 Kutztown University            | INTERNET:    kintsfat@kutztown.edu
 PO Box 730                     |   "We need not think alike to love alike."
 Kutztown, PA  19530-0730       |                Francis David
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