Re: [PyrNet-L] Lymphoma/Clondike Update

[David P Kintsfather Jr <kintsfat@kutztown.edu>]

Clondike continues to experience problems with chemotherapy :(.  In spite
of a switch to IV administration and to darbazine as an anti-nausea drug,
Clondike experienced nausea and vomiting within a few hours of the first
dose of cytoxan.  For the 2nd dose (of 4, supposed to be on successive
days) they pretreated her with injectible zofran, a very expensive and
exotic drug specifically designed to help humans tolerate chemo.

Even with oral zofran, she continued to have episodes of vomiting, and
twice she experienced mini seizures while throwing up. She would retch for
a few seconds, then fall over on her side and twitch for about 4 seconds.
After that she'd get up and appeared OK, but this was really scary.

Both seizures (or neurological events in any case) occurred within 2 or 3
hours of administering clavamox, and I think this may have been the
underlying cause, but the zofran may play a part as well.  So far 5 vets
have speculated on the cause, but all agree that the retching was the
trigger, and so we will try to avoid nausea if we can.

After the problems with the 2nd dose, the oncologist decided not to
complete the cycle of 4 doses.  Clondike's white count had gone down to
2800 (6000 is low normal) and they administered neupogen, a bone marrow
stimulator.

We had Clondike's white count checked 36 hours later and it was over
18,000, which pleased all the vets very much.  She apparently responds
with unusual sensitivity to both the chemo and the neupogen.  We did a
complete chem panel at the same time and all the readings were normal
except for liver function, which were only slightly elevated, and were
quite acceptable for a dog on chemo.

The plan was to let her rest a week and build up her strength, and we meet
with the oncologist next Wed. to discuss administering the 4th (and LAST)
drug in the protocol, the one that nearly killed her the first time
around.  By using the neupogen early with the cytoxan, we eliminated the
diarrhea, and that was the really life-threatening part of the reaction to
the doxorubicin.

We have mixed news from 2 vet visits this Thursday to assess her progress.
The holistic vet feels her pulse and color are significantly
better than the last time he saw her, even though she has had the bad
reaction to cytoxan in between.  He apparently treats quite a few dogs on
chemo and said that she is holding her own very well.

Our vet said her coat had its sparkle back and she was generally doing
well, BUT one of the lymph nodes in her neck has increased in size
slightly since the last time she checked it.  It is still within normal
limits, but this is the first step backward we have experienced with
respect to the cancer, so we are really sweating out what the oncologist
will say on Wed.  On a positive note, some swelling she had around the
nodes in her groin is completely gone now.

She is eating very well and back on the Chinese herbs and all her other
supplements, so we hope she will be stronger by Wed. to face whatever
decision we and the oncologist come to about the 4th drug (doxorubicin).

I am hopeful that she will be strong enough to participate in a brief
therapy visit tomorrow, probably just 2 or 3 of our "regulars."  I think
she will enjoy it as long as we keep it short.

My school starts back on Monday, but I'll try to update the list on how
she does with future treatments.

David

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 David Kintsfather              | PHONE:       (610) 683-4497
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 PO Box 730                     |   "We need not think alike to love alike."
 Kutztown, PA  19530-0730       |                Francis David
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