Yee-Haw!!   At the end of July we looked forward with great excitement to Sylvie's 9-mo. check-up followed in short order by her 9 mo. ampuversary.  She's been going so strong that it never occured to me that it might not go on forever!  So, off we go to the oncologist to get the routine x-rays.  This time it's different, tho.  This time Dr. Valerius comes out to the lobby to give me the latest update and there is a small spot.  We go back to the lab and peer at three x-ray views.  Only on one is there a small, suspicious spot.  It's only on ONE.  The doctor says that with a nodule (we don't even utter the "C" word), if it is THE THING it usually shows up on more than one x-ray.  So the dr. sends it off to have it looked at by a radiologist.

The radiologist is pretty sure it's a cancer nodule, and evidently sees some other shadowy, suspicious "thing".  We can wait 3 weeks and get more x-rays, OR we can begin oral chemotherapy and do another set of x-rays in 3 weeks.  Since Sylvia did so well with chemo before, the choice seemed obvious to us.  We've started with piroxicam every other day for a week, then if she handles that well, we'll alternate the piroxicam with cyclophosphamide.  Then we'll add palladia somewhere in the next several weeks.  We are NOT gonna give into the cancer!!!!  No, no, no, no, NO!

So why am I posting this in a Shout Out?  Because Sylvia does NOT have a cough.  She does NOT have shortness of breath.  She does NOT get tired easily.  She runs and barks and plays with the other dogs and chases the ball.  Two weeks ago we even went for a mini hike along a nearby creek.  It's been so wet that the trail got a little gooey in areas, but Miss Sylvia carefully stepped AROUND the muddiest sections, trying to keep those three wonderfully hairy feet clean! 

Altho it's been only two of the piroxicam capsules so far, she is, as before, totally herself.  No vomitting, diarrhea, appetite is as good as ever.  This girl ROCKS!!!  I know things can change abruptly, but by golly, right now I see our silly sheepdog going on for quite a while.  And most importantly, having a super quality of life!!  So, anyone beginning the journey or wondering about the road before them, please continue to be inspired by my Sweet, Super Sheepdog Sylvia!!

- Karen