Thanks all.

So, we thought we were going to escape any chemo side-effects, but on the 7th day post-chemo Huck got very sick, spent the whole day vomtting and looking very sorry for himself.

We were able to get some Cerenia anti-nausia tablets down him once he had a long enough break between vomits to keep them down, and he was much better by the next day. So, next round we'll give him the tablets on days 2, 6, 7 & 8 and see if that gets him through a bit better.

We're off to our local vet this afternoon for a blood test to check his white blood cell count.

Other than that, he's doing well. He and I played with a chew toy for an hour or so last night, and generally just hung out on the floor cuddling and scratching each other. 

I am a little concerned about his leg strength. He seemed to be doing amazing, getting stronger and stronger but the last 3 or 4 days he tires very quickly. He only makes it to the front of the house before he starts getting lower and lower each step and starts to trip over his own leg a bit. I'm going to start taking him for a shorter hop every few hours now, instead of just a couple of times a day, see if we can build him up a bit. He's only 3.5 weeks post op, so I don't know if I am expecting too much.

I'll see if I can get some new pics over the weekend.

OK, seeing as you asked so nicely Sally, I had a look through my phone and found a photo from the other day. This was him at work with me, when his traction socks arrived (useless by the way), they are tight but by the time he hopped form the bed to the car it was off! (only about a 10 hop walk).

Here he is on his bed, next to my desk at work.

G'Day everyone.

So, time for an update, the good, the bad and the terrible.

Firstly, let me start with a big apology for not keeping a more regular update. I know it's cliched, but I really do not know where the time has gone. Hopefully all the attached photo's might make up for it a bit?

I was about to do an update last week but Huck was booked in for an upcoming CT scan, so I thought I'd wait for that first then do a big update.

A quick recap:-

29th April - a fall at home lead to a limp and suspected hock fracture
5th May - Xray to confirm fracture actually ended up as most likely "some type" of cancer
8th May - Biopsy showed no cancer
13th May - CT scan and Jamshedy
15th May - Jamshedy results, still no sign of cancer?
18th May - Fungal test results clear
19th May - Tissue swap positive for "cancer cells"
25th May - Suirgical consult - recommendation amputation and surgey that day
28th May - Biopsy on removed leg confirmed OSA

A few weeks to get over the surgery, got string quite quick, no real complications other than sever anxiety from the pain med withdrawals and a huge seroma , by 4-5 weeks he was walking well but tiring quickly.

9th June - First round of chemo
21st June - Last Update on this thread.

So, I'll pick up from the first round of chemo.

He had a further 3 rounds of chemo, 3 to 4 weeks apart. Like clockwork, he would get sick for one day on the 7th day after chemo. The third round of chemo we had to postpone a week as his white cell count was too low. The following week it was fine.

He coped better with each round, but generally he'd have chemo, be low for a week then a day or two of being sick, then he'd slowly come good the following week, then he'd have a real good week right before the next round. So, essentially he'd have 1 in 3 really good weeks per round, (not that the other 2 weeks were bad, just not quite himself).

Other than a bit of sickness here and there, he coped quote well with the chemo and it was all fairly uneventful.

The heart murmer that the oncologist initially found was checked out by a specialist and was nothing to worry to much over. It's not a bad one, and is quite normal for his age.

One month after his last round of chemo he went for an X-Ray to check for Mets. His bloodwork was great and no sign of Mets!, that was around the end of September?

Since then he has being going from strength to strength. He comes to work every day with me and he even walks a full block again which is something I never thought he'd be able to do. He's gotten really strong in that back leg and can pull like a train when he's feeling good. We have to be careful to not let him do too much as he gets a bit tired and sore the next day.

He has been getting more nervous the last few months, he startles at some noises that never used to bother him and he'll tremble if he thinks we're going out without him. I guess he's used to being with us all the time now, whereas before he was very independent and quite happy being left alone. Loud cars or motorbikes and even heavy rain will start him off anxiously panting. This seems to be getting slightly worse week-by-week.

He's eaten like a champ since the operation. In fat, he eats better now than he ever did. His weight is great, his coat is great and he always look really healthy. People are always commenting on how good he looks.

A couple of weeks ago he had a weird episode, he started panting and drooling at work, which isn't that unusual as he does get a bit sick from time to time, always has done. Usually he'll go out front and vomit then be fine. This went on for a while this time though, with no effort to get up. I helped him up and outside and he sort of froze, he tried to do a number 2 but collapsed into it and rolled over on his side panting. I really thought it was the beginning of the end, but he hadn't shown any signs of becoming ill. I sat with him on the grass whilst I phoned the vet. We managed to get him into the car and by the time I got to the vets from work he was totally fine!!! He might have had some trapped wind or a bit of constipation maybe.

So, that's the good and the bad and bring us up to this week....

Wednesday 2nd December he went in for his CT scan, 3 months or so since the last chemo round and 7 months since initial diagnosis His physical exam was great, his bloods were great but last night we got the CT results and the bad news. Mets on his lungs, the biggest ones being 4mm & 5mm. No sign of any spread anywhere else, (we got his chest and abdomen scanned). It's possible they were there at the September post-chemo check but too small to have shown up on Xray.

It's taken him a few days to get over the sedation again this time. Each time he's had a sedation or anesthetic it's taken him the little bit linger to get back to normal.

That brings us right up to today and the decision we are currently in the middle of making. Huck is 7 years old next week. The options for his Mets are back on IV chemo, another 4 to 6 rounds all over again, or Palladia drugs or a chemo drug cocktail (Metrononics? - although they don't seem to refer to it as that here in Australia, at least not that I've heard), or the final option is to do nothing.

As there are now lung mets he os no longer elligable to stay on the drug trial for Auranofin as the big hope with that drug is for the prevention of mets, once they have spread there's no evidence that they will do anything to halt further spread. He han take the rest of the iones he has left just in case, but he won't be dispensed any more. He has been on Peroxicam since the first diagnosis and will continue on that.

Our oncologist thinks, in order of effectiveness, would be IV chemo - Palladia - Metronomics. My personal view at this stage is that we don't want to put him through IV chemo again. If he only has weeks/months left then we'd rather he feels good for that time and not just good for 1 week in 3. I'm on the fence about the palladia, so at the moment the Metronomics seems to be the best option when weighing everything up. We are going to see the onco on Tuesday and will have decided by then what to start him on.

We'd almost forgotten he was sick the last few months. New routines on place, lots of outings and quality time spent together and a good break from the chemo, things started to become normal. Weirdly though, although he has been outwardly fine, I just had a feeling the CT scan was going to show something. I was prepared for the news, but it still hits hard.

I'm comfortable with what is to come, the original news back in April was such a shock, it's almost like we're more prepared now. It is still heartbreaking mind you, and I'm dreading when "that day" comes, but I'm holding it together a lot better with this news than I did with the original sarcoma diagnosis.

We've also decided to not do any more CT scans, we may do x-rays down the line, but at the moment "it is what it is". Knowing whether it's growing/shrinking isn't really going to change anything. We'll do the drugs as long as they don't affect his quality of life, and what will be will be.

We'd rather the time he has left be spent in comfort and enjoyable than over-drugged, sick and knocked about with sedation for scans, etc. At the end of the day, dragging it out as long as possible is more for us than him, the kinder thing to do is leave him be to some extent, and allow him the grace to enjoy himself, after all, he doesn't wake up and wonder how many days he has left - that's our burden to bear for him.

So, with the bad news over, lets bring on 6 months worth of missed photo's!!!!!

That Cat is trying to steel my sunny spot again! June 21st

Come ion Dad, it's late, everyone else has gone home already and we're the last ones left again! Lets go.... July 23rd

Keeping an eye on Dad at work, maiing sure he's not slacking around om the Internet! July 28th.

I suppose I could share my bed with The Cat, just this once.... August 4th.

Did somebody say "Treat"? August 30th.

I LOVE smooching my Dad, (although Mum reckons I'm just after the food hiding in his beard), September 19th.

Hanging out with Dad in the garden. after his bike ride, September 26th.

Snoozing around with mum on the back deck, October 4th.

Leave me alone, you're in my sun! October 4th.

I love smooching my Aunty Marion, (even though there's no food in her beard), November 16th.

Dad, those scary storms are back again! November 20th

Thanks to all of you for your support through this so far, you guys have been fantastic and it helps so much just writing some of this stuff down and being open about it. We love our big guy dearly and it will surely break our hearts when he's no longer bouncing around the house, but the support network of this site is a credit to all involved, both admin and contributors alike.

Thanks, and I'll try not to leave it so long between updates next time!!!

Tony.

Hi all, thanks for the replies. It really helps.

Huck had a rough night last night, panting and panicking over something, we couldn't work out what though. There were no storms around, he was just really on edge with every noise. He settled down through the night so hopefully he's a bit more chilled out today.

We got the estimates through from the oncologist last night, I thought I'd post them up for reference if anyone is interested.

All amounts are in Australian Dollars.

Palladia Option - $1190 per month (875 USD)

Consult, CBC, Famotidene (Pepcidine), Tocerabin (Palladia) and Piroxicam

Metranmoic Option - $550 per month (400 USD)

Consult, materials, CBC, Doxycycline, Piroxicam, Cyclophosphamide, Furosemide

We're thinking metronomics at the moment, will discuss all potential side effects of each though on Tuesday at the consult and go from there.

Thanks.