Susan and Tazzie,

It has been nearly impossible for me to get into this site for the last two days. What normally has taken minutes has required dozens of attempts and tens of minutes. My browser keeps replying that it cannot open the page requested and stops downloading. So....here goes an attempt to answer you questions.

Cherry was on Carboplantin and recieved four treatments three weeks apart. Thus, from the first treatment just hours after the amputation to the last was nine weeks. She also recieved Metoclopramide for nausea, Cerenia for vomiting, Mirtazapine, and Metoclopramide for appetite simulation. Since the first treatment was just hours after the amputation, she also had Tramadol and Rimadyl for the pain as well as a patch that was replentished three days after the amputation. These pain killers quickly proved to be too much. I removed her from them and she did show general improvement. The only real side effect of the chemotherapy for Cherry was the total loss of appetite - she would not willingly take food for the duration. I could even taste the chemicals when I kissed her good night. However, with the exception of my fingers (from stuffing the little girl) there really was not any real suffering. Once the chemicals were gone from her system, I got back my little imp. To this day her appetite is very spotty but then that is typical for an older standard poodle. Back to your questions, she did not stay in the clinic beyond the normal recovery time, and we did not go further to manage the side effects. More importantly, I did not allow them to reduce the standard dose. Studies have shown that even a small reduction in the chemotherapy dose has dramatic reductions in the effectiveness.

In all, I often state that we had a middle of the road journey - many have had an easier time and many have had a harder time. The recovery we experience now has been worth everything invested. I will also admit that I have not gone back to have x-rays to examine the lungs for metastasis. No matter what such an examination would yield, I would not change my relationship with Cherry. It will be different when she shows the signs of the cancer's return.

Hope that this helps and keep us posted. You can always email "Cherry" directly.

Bob & Cherry