Another Unknown Growth

[hheldorfer]

Hang in there, Whits and Addie.  The next few weeks may be rocky but you'll get through it.  Buffy has offered to take Addie out for a nice juicy steak when this is all over.

[pkcrossley]

after effects can indeed be intimidating, partly because they are a reminder of how formidable the treatments are --they continue to damage tissue after they are no longer administered. try to keep in mind that it is a nice trade-off with the daily anesthetization, which is actually more scary, and which you will be done with as of tomorrow. from there is it just a matter of nursing addie through a well-known arc of completed treatments. all individuals are different, some showing more sensitivity than others, and maybe addie will show a lot of tolerance. but it is all to finish off those bad guys. congratulations on getting through a pretty daunting program. 

[_whits_]

Addie finished her last radiation treatment! 4 weeks of daily M-F radiation are complete!!

We have a follow-up appointment in 2 weeks (and numbers and emails for the interim period), but no more daily doctor visits, no more daily anesthesia, and no more daily radiation!

[_whits_]

Thank you PK, for that much needed perspective. Yes, not having daily anesthesia is such a relief and I'd much prefer the hassle of burns to Addie losing a leg. I hate seeing her suffer, but I know whatever comes in terms of side effects are better than what she was dealing with before and much better than her facing life with one less leg.  

[remltr]

14 minutes ago, _whits_ said:

This photo says, "I just want some ice cream and I deserve some ice cream. I hope mom can read my mind!!!"

[Hillscreek]

Agree with pk. Side effects are tough to deal with - harder for some than others. However, trooper Addie has done so well so far she will surely manage the last part and save her leg for running and bouncing doing other fun cairn stuff.

[Sam I Am]

Its full steam ahead now Addie, no looking back. You will deal with the side effects in true Cairn spirit, with little time for down time, just a whole life ahead of you filled with love from your mum, grandparents and all of us here on this site.

I agree..... ice cream is a must .

[_whits_]

1 hour ago, remltr said:

This photo says, "I just want some ice cream and I deserve some ice cream. I hope mom can read my mind!!!"

She got a good portion of my fish sandwich, which she appreciated more than I think she would ice cream. Of course she wants you all to know that I didn't give her nearly enough and that having a pescatarian mom is a special hell. No table scraps with real meat?!?! Unacceptable. 

[LindaMC]

I'm so glad that Addie's radiation treatments are finally over and she looks no worse for the wear.  She is a beautiful girl with such an expressive face.  I hope that the days ahead aren't too daunting and that her side effects are very mild.  Give Addie a huge hug from me and tell her that Maisie says she still looks amazing!   

[Cara L]

whits, Addie is so cute. It's easy to see how you'd do anything for this special little love bug. Congratulations, both of you, on being done. 

[Autumn & Lola]

Yiiipppeeee! Finished at last! Congrats! I'm sure you are both very relieved.   Addie's adorable little face seems to be saying, "Can I pulll-lease get back to my summer now, Mom??"

[kjwarnold]

Hurray for Addie!  So glad it's over and it appears she (and you) have come through it pretty well.  Now let's get back to summer!  Oh, and ice cream goes down really well after  fish sandwich!

[_whits_]

Radiation burn has started to make its appearance as of last night. It first showed up between her toes, so her foot looks a bit like she wore a pair of flip flops for the first time in years. Completely raw and bright red. The rest of her incision area and radiation field is losing hair, getting more lizard-like, and starting to look a little red. 

I've been putting aloe on it, but that seems to encourage her to lick it. I've caught her a few too many times licking it today so had to bring out the inflatable inner tube version of the dreaded lampshade collar. She was completely appalled that I even had the audacity to attempt it, but now seems to have embraced it as a handy neck pillow  Addie's always looking for a place to rest her head (practicing good sleeping posture!) so she's at least temporarily accepted the collar. 

Poor girl is clearly in pain when she walks. She's been limping all day and doesn't want to go out even for potty. I had to carry her back the last potty break. 

At discharge she was put on prednisone for inflammation and  antibiotics to get ahead of any radiation site infection. They also gave me some painkillers to use at my discretion, which I started today. 

[hheldorfer]

Oh you poor girl, Addie.  Please take it easy and get over this hump.  We all want you to be better again and we want your mommy to have her brave Cairn back tending to business.  Praying that this passes quickly.

Helene

[Sam I Am]

That is a thoroughly miserable face. Poor girl she has been through a lot lately . It must be so upsetting for you also Whits! I hope the pain meds kick in and do their job. Hoping this clears up very soon. 

[Kathryn]

Poor babe. Wish I could say something or send something that would help. Even if you know this is coming, it is hard to take. It just seems so unfair for Addie to hurt even more.

Your mom loves you, Addie, and all your friends on Cairntalk are hoping for your quick recovery...

[Donna Crume]

Well, after sitting here and adding to a topic, and seeing this one, I have just finished reading all 10 pgs.  Nap time, not yet . . . .

Mz Addie, continue to strut your stuff little girl.  You and your mom have had a very challenging summer!  Positive thoughts have again and again been sent your way through this wonderful group of peoples and furry cousins, I just want to add mine also.  I am happy with the rest of the collective that your condition although scary, unexpected and cause for serious human concern, was not what it could have been and you are on the down hill slide!!!

My young lady was diagnosed with Leukemia in January, just over a week after turning 9 yrs old.  She is holding her own, and has been in remission since the end of February.  She also is on Prednisolone, as this was the treatment the vet and I chose.  I do not have insurance on her, and it did not appear the prognosis would have been any different had she undergone chemo.  May I suggest one thing here though, an older friend who had to be on this Rx several times suggested I give my girl a vitamin with it.  Apparently this med can deplete the body in ways, and she found this helpful.  So, mom has had her on her multi vitamin since January, and she is doing great.  She wants to eat Jersey, but then maybe she just takes after her kind’a round (which is a shape! So I tell people I am in shape!!!) mom?  

Should Addie try and ’clean’ her leg/foot when she has aloe or other ointments on it to help with the burn, you might try a baby sock to cover the limb.  The same friend had to put ointment on her Schnauzer mix, and found this to work with a loose/semi snug rubber band to keep it on.  A thought.     

[Hillscreek]

Sorry for the pain Addie. Hang in there fury buddy.

[_whits_]

Put aloe on Addie's foot before bed and decided to try a baby sock instead of the cone overnight. Oh my. She seemed to appreciate the cool aloe but just getting that sock on (and I held it so it barely touched her skin while I was pulling it on) caused her so much pain I'll never try it again. Taking it off was even worse. 

As I've said before, Addie does not like showing any pain. It's only this year with this infiltrative lipoma and treatment that the pain has just been too much for her stoic self. She cried out due to the temporary nerve damage from surgery and it broke my heart. Now, after being so brave for nearly 3 months now and dealing with a month of daily poking and prodding, this burn has just left her miserable. She can barely put weight on it. And if you saw her flinch and the look on her face when I tried to put that sock on and eventually take it off, you'd know why I went to sleep with tears in my eyes. 

It just seems so unfair that after this difficult summer of her being subjected to things she doesn't understand and regular (if largely minimal) pain, that now  she's reduced to what appears to be excruciating pain.

The painkillers really don't appear to be doing much, so I'm going to contact her oncologist on Monday for some advice. They did say that as the burn progresses they expect to bandage it, as they expect her paw pads and nails to potentially fall off and she'll need protection when she walks. The oncologist doesn't like bandaging radiation burns as they heal better when they can get fresh air and avoid additional moisture, but it's likely unavoidable for Addie. 

After spending a month at the oncologist (that shared a waiting room with the doggie ER) watching far too many dogs walk in to never walk out again, I know how lucky Addie and I are with this diagnosis. But it's so hard to see her in pain and not be able to help her understand that it's temporary, why she can't lick it, and that she really is a lucky pup despite the pain. 

[pkcrossley]

dogs like other animals have convinced me they rejoice in survival, which to them is an absolute --survival is survival. so i am pretty confident that whatever the temporary pain, addie is congratulating herself every day on being alive. doesn't mean we like any pain! but she is looking forward to doing all her usual stuff. she's going to be okay. 

[sanford]

This is so hard on Adie and you, and hard to read. I know I would feel the same as you do and I for one am grateful for the wisdom that pk had to offer!

[Sam I Am]

I know Whits how upsetting this is for you also. It would make it so much easier if we could tell them that this is a temporary bump in the road to getting better. It's that feeling of helplessness that makes it so much more stressful for you. Hopefully the specialist can give Addie some different meds that will help with the pain.

[hheldorfer]

Whitney, is there some type of numbing spray you could use on Addie?  I Googled "numbing spray for dogs" and several numbing/antiobiotic spray products popped up.  Don't know if they are all safe for dogs, though, and I have no idea if a spray would be safe to use in her situation.  Maybe worth asking the oncologist?  It seems that a spray would be easier to use and less painful for Addie.  

God I wish I could help you.  I hate to see you and Addie going through this.  You're doing the absolute best you can and Addie *will* get better.  

 

[_whits_]

I'm calling the oncologist tomorrow for some advice. I think the reason why the pain is particularly bad is that the worst of the burn is between her toes, so gets pushed and pulled with every step. I'm also worried about dirt and grime and wood chips (we have a lot of wood chips in our apartment complex) getting between her toes and making things worse. 

Her oncologist wanted to hold off on a bandage for as long as possible to give it as much fresh air as possible, but I think that was when he expected her surgery incision site to break open first (on the side of her leg). He didn't expect the first burns to appear on her foot and toes. 

I'm not going to put anything other than aloe on it or do anything to else it until I talk to the oncologist. I do think it would be a lot easier for her to bear the pain if it was just on her leg, instead of between her toes and on the top of her foot. Like I said, basically every step she takes irritates the wound. She seems resigned to and accepting of the cone in the house. It's just particularly heartbreaking seeing her have such trouble bearing any weight on her foot, especially considering how active she likes to be. She's now asking me to carry her to and from potty, and doesn't want to walk on it otherwise. 

[Hillscreek]

Can't help a tear or two - so difficult to tell her she will be OK and she not understanding. Be brave the both of you and it will get over.