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[PyrNet-L] CHAT, HEALTH: Lymphoma/Clondike has a setback
Clondike is an 11 year-old Pyr with lymphoma who has been undergoing
chemotherapy since last May.
She recently achieved a complete remission after one treatment of a new
protocol just developed by Ohio State. She tolerated the first set of
chemicals with only a little lethargy one day.
Unfortunately the 2nd treatment in the protocol (there are only 2
treatments to a cycle, 5-8 cycles in all) caused severe vomiting
followed by some diarrhea. We hospitalized her on Monday for fluids and
IV anti-nausea drugs.
The good news is that the lymph nodes that were normal last week are not
even detectable this week, so we have done a real number on the cancer.
The drug that caused the problem is melphalen, a nitrogen mustard. The
dose was huge, so there is plenty of room to reduce it--or maybe we can
even try eliminating it (ha, wishful thinking).
Last night Clondike had eaten a little cream of rice and babyfood and her
poop had advanced to pudding consistency (it doesn't take much to please
us these days) so the vet let her come home. She took medicine, but
refused food and Nancy was convinced she would just lie there and starve.
Today she reluctantly ate a fair helping of hamburger and gruel, but spit
out her pills (it's always something). I think by tonight we'll have her
back on schedule, although it will take some time for her system to return
to normal.
I'll try to post an update after we see the oncologist (probably next
week) and decide how to proceed from here.
David
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David Kintsfather | PHONE: (610) 683-4497
Dept. of Telecommunications | FAX: (610) 683-4659
Kutztown University | INTERNET: kintsfat@kutztown.edu
PO Box 730 | "We need not think alike to love alike."
Kutztown, PA 19530-0730 | Francis David
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