November 10, 2010

Chemo - What Fun!

We went for Abby's first chemo session today. She loved it. (She's so nutty.) It was the most excited I've seen her in about a month. She was bouncing all over the place and kissing everyone and hopping around. She loved it there. (We are going to the Vet Cancer Group, which is a different place from where we go for her regular vet care/where her amp was done.) The oncologist I met before, Dr. Vancil, was in a jury pool, so he had to go back to the court house this morning, so we had our appointment with a different oncologist, Dr. Rosenberg--the head of all of VCG (they have several offices in So Cal). She was super nice and sat on the floor with Abby and let Abby kiss her all she wanted.

Here is a picture of her looking oh-so-happy to be at her appointment. (She is checking out the dog and cat art hanging on the wall.)

Dr. R. said they would give her the 100% dose for the first go-round, since Abby looked so healthy and peppy. (I guess in some cases they ease into things, but with Abby we are attacking whole-hog.) She also said if Abby tolerates the treatment well, we might go to an every 2 weeks schedule instead of every 3. We'll see. (Although not right away because of Thanksgiving coming up.) 

The chemo is given by IV. Abby was so amped up, I asked how they would keep her quiet enough to get the drugs in her. Dr. R. said one tech would hold her and pet her while the other one put the IV in, and it would be done in a couple of minutes. When the tech came back with Abby, she said she did great and just lay down on the floor, like "OK, let me have it."

They gave me some nausea medication to bring home and give her, just in case. Within the next 24-72 hours we'll really know how she's doing. We go back in one week so they can check her blood - 7-10 days is generally the low point for white cell count, so they'll check to see how she's doing. If it's really low, she might have to stick close to home for a few days. But other than that, Dr. R. cleared her for all her old activities already! Walking! Dog Park! Dog Beach! HIKING even! She said Abby just needs to build back up her stamina. So, this afternoon, we'll try a little hop around the neighborhood. 

Hopefully she won't feel too nauseous over the next few days so we can start building up her stamina! So far, she seems fine-just tired from the excitement. She came home and wolfed down her breakfast (canned salmon mixed with salmon-flavored kibble), which she had ignored earlier (she never has much appetite in the a.m.). Right now she's napping.

In an amusing side note, I heard the gal working the front desk talking to Dr. V. on the phone. He ended up not getting on a jury after all and was calling to say he was coming back to the office. I heard the gal say to him, "Someone got off the jury by claiming an over-active bladder?" So, people - remember that line next time you want to get off of jury duty!

4 comments:

  1. It's good (and amazing) that she loves the vets' offices. Indy acts like I'm taking her to the gas chamber when we go there. Good to hear she can get back out there!

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  2. Hooray! Hope she feels OK. As I was reading, it sounded at first like they gave you some nausea medicine! If you get sympathetic nausea, we still have some of that expensive stuff they gave Jake after his accident! Leave Abby's alone!

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  3. Oh, gosh - I hope I don't get sympathy nausea!

    So far tonight she seems OK. She ate a bit of dinner - not much but then, she's always weird about eating. (Still so not used to that after the beagle.)

    Like yesterday, I got a swirled fro yo as my treat for going to Costco (I know some people consider the trip to Costco itself to be a treat, but not me...). Anyway, I came in w/ it thinking that I would have to sneak around with it, like I used to with the beagle (or else she'd stare at me the whole time and ruin my enjoyment of it...). But Abby could care less about fro-yo. She ignored me. And it was Mine. All Mine!

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  4. I was on a jury selection last year where a woman used that same excuse!

    I'm happy Abby is doing so well. My kids are very excited to hear from you. This combines two things third graders love to hear about the most: pets and injuries.

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