Friday, January 11, 2008

She's so Complex

The good news...She's cancer free! Yeah!!! The interesting news is that she is such a medical enigma. Her test results reveal lymphoblahblahblah. Some big name that is another word for "autoimmune response." Even though it is an autoimmune response she likely doesn't have an autoimmune disorder. The thinking is that her body went into overdrive to fight a systemic infection. Crazy! They said, "this is unusual." The fungal panel hasn't come back yet and will take two weeks (she could have a systemic fungal infection).

The treatment protocol: She starts prednizone tonight 2x per day. One of two things will happen. 1) The spot will heal quickly meaning that the prednizone will suppress her immune system enough to keep the lump under control; or 2) her immune system will get suppressed by the prednizone and the infection will get worse.

Our little girl is contributing to animal science!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Glad to hear the "cancer free" news!!! Hope the prednisone works and she's back on the road to recovery---again!!!
love you all-Kath & Bailey

Anonymous said...

Glo, take the leap into the wonderful world of alternative medicine you'll be pleasantly surprised and arrow will be whole once again.... love yas -Jo

blarney said...

I'm very glad to hear she is still cancer-free and also that I am not the only one who's pets are medical enigmas.

Let me know if she'll be up for a walk this weekend.

Anonymous said...

Arrow is doing really well. She has her big 6 month follow up appt next week at Tufts and will have a full body screen and map once again. The mysterious lump that appeared on her elbow was not a fungus, a bacteria or any identifiable cause. It has healed and now we just call it the $700 pimple because that is what the tests ended up costing us!!! She has been on the Cape with my sister Nancy and her family for a couple of weeks while Glo and I were away so we get to pick her up this weekend. By all reports, she has enjoyed her Cape vacation, has eaten lots of chicken nuggets and snacks that the 2 year old Jack drops on the floor, became the 5 year olds (Ben) pet Coyote for a while, and has been having walks around the pond. My sister summed it up after a week with Arrow that she is like 2 dogs. A quiet, limping, mellow dog who follows her everywhere in the house, and a pschyo perky puppy the minute you let her outside. She picks up sticks, runs like a nut, and is ready for action. Anyone who knows Arrow knows exactly what I mean. So keep your good thoughts flowing our way for her appointment on April 1, where we hope to be able to say still cancer free. Sal