Day 1

Today was treatment day 1 of 19. I realized that I haven't gotten to tell a lot of you the details of her cancer and treatment so I wanted to do that first. About six weeks ago, we noticed this small lump on Arrow's left shoulder. She is getting more and more lipomas as time goes on -- enough to earn her the nickname "lumpy." The vet aspirated a lump in the same place back in March (and it was fine) so we assumed it was the same lump. Well within three weeks this thing grew like something I've never seen. It went from a raisin to an egg in that short time frame. And it was DISGUSTING! We actually thought it was an abscess and I kept making sure that Sally walked in the door first after work in case it popped. As many of you know I would not have been able to deal with that AT ALL.

Our vet did a great job at removing her tumor. She had surgery about two weeks ago and the pathologist report said that it was a Grade 2 or intermediate tumor. Our vet had cut a wide enough margin around the tumor and the margins were clear. All good signs. The recommendation with a diagnosis like that is to follow up with radiation. Even though the myxosarcoma has a low metastatic rate, recurrence of an intermediate tumor is on average about 1-2 yrs away.

We had to take her to the Tufts Animal hopital in Grafton, MA. In case any of you need to drive out there from here, from our door in Hadley to their door it is 1 hr. 15 min. I have to say these people are incredible! They love her and I think she's in good hands. For those of you who know Arrow well, you know she's a bit anxious (keep the "she's like her owner" comments to yourself!). When our vet comes to the house she shakes like crazy. Well she doesn't shake very much there and Sally and I both think she knows that this place is going to help her.

They said that her tumor, although came back as a gade 2 acted like a high grade or grade 3 tumor. Which meant without chemo, her tumor would likely recur within 6-8 months. They recommend 19 days of radiation with weekends off. So everyday for the next four weeks, we will take her out to Grafton for 1 hour of treatment and then turn around and come home. We can board her if we want, but I have to say, the thought of boarding her four days a week is what sent me into tears when we were meeting with the radiologist. She's never been boarded and until now has only spent 2 nights in an animal hospital (once when she was spayed and once two weeks ago after her surgery).

Sally and I decided that since today was a long day (they map the tumor and it takes some time) and because we didn't have time to rearrange our schedule, we would board her tonight and tomorrow night and pick her up Wed. evening. They have a walking schedule for her and because they think she is soooo sweet, I think she might get to hang out with them in the oncology department. Dr. Lee, her radiologist oncologist, called Sally today to tell her that Arrow is doing great! She doesn't seem anxious and she is pretty mellow.

This morning, Sally drove her into the hospital before work. It was quiet here when I woke up and it's weird to have your routine broken. I came in the kitchen to make myself a sandwich and she wasn't here to hear the plastic ruffle and sit down next to me looking so cute and innocent waiting for a piece of turkey (or cheese will do just fine!). When Sally called me from the hospital to say she had just dropped her off we both broke down. She said when they handed her the leash and collar it just was so profoundly sad to see those two things on her front seat without Arrow.

Thank you all for your thoughts and concern. You have all been so incredible.