Chemo
I've been a wuss about this whole situation, and maybe it's time I try to be rational about it all. After all, if the dog that's at the centre of all of this can handle the hardship with amazing coolness, I have no excuse not to try.
The tumours were malignant -- a cancer of his fibrous tissue (at least, that was the best the vet knew how to explain). The good news is that they are unlikely to spread to any of his vital organs; the bad news is that, without chemotherapy, they will almost certainly recur. And then what? Surgery after surgery? The very reason why we finally decided on the operation was because of how terribly painful his everyday activities had become.
The first (and, hopefully, only) round of chemo entails going for six single agent intravenous treatments, two to three weeks apart. Even as I'm typing all of this, I have no idea what it means. We'll have to go down to NUH or SGH each time to pick up a supply of his meds, before bringing them to the vet to administer to Rocky.
Apparently dogs don't suffer from hair (fur) loss -- as most humans do -- from chemo, but the other side-effects are similar: vomitting and diarrhoea. I don't know how long these effects will last after each treatment. What if they last the full two weeks, after which he will be due for the next treatment? That's months of nausea and diarrhoea, without any reprieve. It's the thought of that that cuts through my heart.
I don't know what else to say or think. This is it for now. This is all I can manage.
Thank you all for your kind e-mails -- we appreciate them all.
Meanwhile, I'll try not to let this chemo-monster eat us up even before it begins, if at all.
The tumours were malignant -- a cancer of his fibrous tissue (at least, that was the best the vet knew how to explain). The good news is that they are unlikely to spread to any of his vital organs; the bad news is that, without chemotherapy, they will almost certainly recur. And then what? Surgery after surgery? The very reason why we finally decided on the operation was because of how terribly painful his everyday activities had become.
The first (and, hopefully, only) round of chemo entails going for six single agent intravenous treatments, two to three weeks apart. Even as I'm typing all of this, I have no idea what it means. We'll have to go down to NUH or SGH each time to pick up a supply of his meds, before bringing them to the vet to administer to Rocky.
Apparently dogs don't suffer from hair (fur) loss -- as most humans do -- from chemo, but the other side-effects are similar: vomitting and diarrhoea. I don't know how long these effects will last after each treatment. What if they last the full two weeks, after which he will be due for the next treatment? That's months of nausea and diarrhoea, without any reprieve. It's the thought of that that cuts through my heart.
I don't know what else to say or think. This is it for now. This is all I can manage.
Thank you all for your kind e-mails -- we appreciate them all.
Meanwhile, I'll try not to let this chemo-monster eat us up even before it begins, if at all.
posted by Laughingcow at 9:53 pm
5 Comments:
*hug* Rocky doesn't really realise the situation, but you do (or at least much of it).. he trusts you, so you've just got to do what you believe is right..
i'm so sorry about Rocky. i ... don't know what to say to someone in this situation... all i can think of it ... you're not alone in this.and i'll be praying for u to keep strong.
Thank you both.
Faith, your prayers are more than enough.
hi dear..
i hope rocky will be ok. shawnnie is fine, and i thank you for ur well wishes.
take care and know that ill be praying for him too! :)
Thanks, babe. Glad to know Shawnnie is doing well. :)
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