When we first went to the oncologist, he told us that as a result of the radiation, Arrow would get a "bad sunburn." Now, I've had bad sunburns before. In fact, my friend Don and I used to try to get really sunburned just so we could whine about it together! (We were young and this was before all the health communications about the dangers of the sun causing skin cancer. Public Health in action. 30 years later, we wouldn't dream of being so silly--or would we?).
Needless to say, Arrow's side effects from radiation are far worse than anything Don and I did to ourselves. I hope these pictures say a couple of things: 1) The reality of cancer is that it is harsh and it takes a lot to kill the cancer cells. It really is serious businees. This is Arrow's process. It's not every dog's experience. 2) She is incredibly brave and strong to be tolerating her treatment so well. Today, we walked across the street to the farm and she was trotting right along. Although I know she is still in pain (she was walking sideways for most of it), she is really doing well. The burn will continue to get worse over the next four days (apprarently radiation stays in the system for seven days post treatment continuing to do its thing). We're counting down.
In the picture of her in her bed, you'll notice a little brown spot next to the big burn. That is from radiation they administered to her lymph node. The last treatment on that spot was last Tuesday, so that spot is just about at its peak. You can see it looks nothing like the football on the right. I'm wondering if that one is so bad because she had recently had surgery? I'm not sure.
Some of you might think this is really harsh treatment for a dog. But we really believe we did the right thing and that her chances of having a lot more time in the sun, hikes, swims, sticks, and hot dogs will be greatly improved. She is resting comfortably tonight.
8 comments:
Oh my God, poor Boney. I feel so bad for animals, they never complain. So sorry you all had to go through this, life is really tough sometimes.....
Good luck this week. Love to all
Hang in there! You've gotten through the toughest part! You get to get through to the finish together, at home!!!! Oh, by the way, on a lighter note...who would be the one you would take on a deserted island? Janet and I aren't so crazy?! EY?
I can't answer that because my wife reads the blog :)
looking forward to seeing more pictures in a couple weeks, when it'll be looking much better!
Okay- so it is a bit harsh, but not quite as bad as I thought based on how you described it. I'm thinking that if Boney wants a better story to tell than "This is from my cancer treatment" she could always tell this one: "I was on the alpine slide and took a turn too high, and to prevent myself from flying off the track on the next turn I had to lean in, and oops, I burned a few layers off my shoulder." Really, it could happen.
Griffie might come up with a good story too- maybe something having to do with wild animals in the woods (turkeys- I mean big huge bobcats- perhaps????)
I think it was a "Turkeyowldeercat" that attacked her!
oh, and by the way, do you think Boney would ever be on an Alpine slide?
I think you are projecting. Boney has a very colorful, adventurous life... while she is twitching at night and you are bouncing out of bed and "poor Sally" is yelling at you to stop getting up a million times.
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