still going strong!

Spencer is still going strong.  He has 2 chemo treatments to go and then he is done with that.  Both will be vincristine.  He is all done with the mitox.  About a month ago he did seem to slow down a bit; but he has bounced back and seems to hardly be effected on chemo days other than peeing more.

Tonight I realized that Christmas Eve will be his 4 month ampuversary.  I am sooooo happy that he is going to be here for Christmas.  And it brings tears to my eyes to think that he might not be here next year.  I have been in a positive mindset; but reading tonight that fellow tripawd, and soft tissue sarcoma patient, Gayle died has me a little pessimistic again.  My heart breaks for Gayle’s family tonight.  🙁

I’m excited to be almost done with the chemo.  My pocket book is definitely excited about it.  But then I’m also really nervous about it.  Spencer is soooo good right now.  What if it is only the chemo that has been holding the cancer off?  What if it comes back as soon as the chemo is stopped?  I know that I can “what if” from now until the cows come home; but it is still what is running through my mind.  When I decided to do this chemo I wondered if I would regret it.  If the cancer would never come back and I would always wonder if it just wasn’t going to come back or if the chemo had kept it from coming back.  Now, 13 weeks down the chemo track, I know I’m not going to regret it.  Because I really do feel like doing chemo was giving Spencer his best chance of beating the cancer.  And if it never comes back I am going to really feel that the chemo stopped it.  God, I hope the chemo stops it!

OK, enough of my rambling about what is in my head.  Some things that Spencer has been up to…

We had to swap the leg that they do his chemo in.  They had been doing it in his front leg each week (he is a front leg amputee, so it was always the same leg).  I started to notice a sore though, so for the last 3 treatments he has had them in a back leg.  He doesn’t seem to be able to get the bandage off as fast from his back leg.  With his front leg he always has it off before we even get home; but with the back leg I usually take it off after we get home.  🙂

Spencer loved Thanksgiving.  While I tried to keep him to his grain free diet, I did let him have grain free scraps.  I had kind of worried that he was losing too much weight.  He was looking like he might be on the verge of getting too skinny.  Well, just 1 week of getting turkey and letting the kids decide on if he gets 1 scoop or 2 and he had put on more than 4 lbs!!!  I put him back to his normal diet though and he was back down to his healthy weight within 2 weeks.  I wish it were that easy for me!  (though I have way more than 4 lbs to lose!)

he has FINALLY gotten back to being willing to go out without me *right* there.  I can actually let him out, do something else, then let him back in.

Here is a video that shows Spencer running around.  It was supposed to be a video of my son showing me his new gymnastics floor routine ( mom brag alert:  he had just started learning it the day before); but Spencer wanted to run through some too.  🙂

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28033290@N08/6445189381/

 

Author: justjac

Spencer is our 5.5 year old Doberman. He was diagnosed with an aggressive fibrosarcoma on 8/22. He had his left front leg amputated on 8/24/11. Finished 15 weeks of chemo on 12/22/11 (mytox and vincristine). Lung mets found 12/28/11. Fought hard and lived a full life right up until the end. Went to Heaven 2/28/12.

5 thoughts on “still going strong!”

  1. Hey Spencer, congrats on finishing the chemo.

    I know you’re sad about Gayle, we are so heartbroken too. But please remember that Gayle would want you to live in the now, and not worrying about tomorrow. It’s so hard for humans, I know. It’s easy to let those fears consume us. But try, try to remember that the Fear Monster likes to steal the time we have left together, don’t let it win. I know you can do it!

  2. Oh boy, I hear you on the wishing I could keep my weight down as easy as the dog! But then, I guess it would be easy if someone was controlling my every calorie! (Boy would I be cranky though.)

    Glad to hear Spencer continues to do well!
    Jackie, Abby’s mom

  3. I’d been wondering about Spencer so I’m delighted you’ve let us know how well he’s doing! We all have our moments of wondering what the future holds. As I’ve said before, in the end time bites us all in the rear. We just have to make good with what we’ve got. That’s why dogs are so great. You know that expression, live every day as if it were your last? Guess who’s doing that?

    Here’s to many more months and sneaking in an extra treat every now and then. It makes the kids happy, makes Spencer happy–everybody wins!

    Shari

  4. I have sent you a PM regarding Rusty and Fibrosarcoma. I did that before finding your blog. If you read my blog, rusty.tripawds.com I think it will help with some of your questions since we are further along in the battle.

    The news of Gayle’s passing hit us hard; they have been strong supporters of Rusty. We are so fortunate that Rusty is with us for a second Christmas since his amputation. It makes this Christmas very special, as was his first one after amputation.

    Chuck

  5. Janet,We will be thinking of Achilles today and prnaiyg for a speedy turn around. It seems each dog is so different in their recovery. Sammy had a very bumpy road to start with too.It seems many dogs do really well, jump right up and keep on trucking. I was upset and anxious when my boy wasn’t responding as well as so many others I read about. I just love him and wanted so much for him to be okay. I know you feel the same way about Achilles. Keep the positive outlook going around him and we will too. Many hugs to you and Achilles and please let us know as soon as you can how he is doing.Elizabeth and Sammy

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