Dually’s Cancer Journey x2

It’s been a tough year for us and Dually, and if you’re reading this you likely know that I will do everything in my power for my best friend, my #1 love, my shadow I can’t live without.

Earlier this year I found a lump on Dually unlike any other. The word you never want to hear the vet say; cancer. My head was spinning for weeks as we made a major adjustment in our daily lives and routines to prepare for the unknown. Meds, tests, what ifs, multiple vet visits.

Prior to surgery (in true Dually fashion) we learned that Dually’s pancreas was flaring up, which can be calmed through medication and diet and thankfully with just that his pancreas returned quickly to a relatively normal functioning level. But this meant he would need a minor non invasive surgery prior to tumor removal to ensure his body could handle this major surgery. All went well and we followed through with his tumor removal.

Almost a week after major surgery to remove Dually’s tumor we got amazing news that Dually’s tumor had not spread. As of today Dually is CANCER FREE!

2 weeks later and almost at a full recovery point after major tumor removal surgery Dually’s pancreas flared up again. More med changes, diet, appointments and a scheduled minor non invasive surgery coming up to determine next steps and whether or not he does in fact have pancreatitis.

Rest assured Dually is still himself and happy as can be and we will continue to provide the absolute best care possible for him until he says otherwise.

If you feel compelled to, anything you can give is appreciated more than I can express, even if it’s just a special thought for my big guy ♥️

PUPDATE:

Dually's next minor non invasive surgery is coming up this week and I will share results as soon as I receive them.

Dually is doing really well on his new medications, new diet, and even has an appetite most of the time without needing the prescribed appetite booster! Although we don't have a definite diagnosis yet, these are all good signs!

We have recently been able to resume our regular daily woods walks without modification and he is thoroughly enjoying the time spent outside sniffing and exploring.

PUPDATE UPDATE:

3 days before Dually’s minor non invasive surgery to further examine his pancreas and other organs I found 2 more lumps. This time they were on his throat. I knew immediately; this was not going to be good. To the vet we go - samples were taken and we resumed our lives for the next few days.

Minor surgery came - immediate results showed his pancreas levels were dropping back down (great news, we wanted them lower) his organs looked good besides some sludge on his gall bladder; nothing too alarming.. His vet and surgeon confirm the lumps on his throat are in fact his lymph nodes, not just enlarged salivary glands as we’d hoped. Extra samples of his lymph nodes were taken while he was sedated just in case his first samples came back inconclusive.

Dually’s first lymph node samples were inconclusive. Thankfully his vet and surgeon made the executive decision to take a second sample while he was under.. JUST IN CASE.

9 days after minor surgery the call comes in. Dually has large cell lymphoma.

My heart, my head, my world - it just stopped and the tears flowed heavy and hard. But Dually was right by my side to lick them up off my face before they even had a chance to hit the ground. He was there for me.

How can my beautiful baby be facing another form of cancer? He’s already been through so much. I can’t imagine my world without him nor can I remember it before him.

Initially I was entirely against chemotherapy. I have listened, learned and accepted the fact that this is the direction we are heading in. While the numbers don’t stack up as well as we want them to assuming chemotherapy goes well, we have to give Dually every fighting chance we possibly can.

Giving Dually the chance to try chemo means that we have given him the highest possible level of care he can receive. We will know within the first few weeks of chemo if this is a viable option for him and make a concrete decision from there.

After many many phone calls, I was able to get Dually into the cancer center of our choice!

CHEMO JOURNEY:

Dually had his consultation appointment at the cancer center last week, along with his first chemotherapy treatment.

We had a very serious, down to earth discussion about Quality of Life with our oncologist. I asked her all the questions and asked her to promise me that if I begin to make decisions for myself rather than for Dually to put me in my place and bring me back down to earth. She promised that she would.

We have made a Quality of Life list for Dually, all the things he loves and enjoys. And while this list is sad it is also a reminder that he still has his Quality of Life and that is why it is so important we give him this opportunity to try chemotherapy treatment.

I made a promise to Dually when I brought him home many years ago that I would do everything in my power to protect him and give him the life he deserves and I have no intentions of breaking those promises now. Every decision is for Dually, and I trust that he will tell me if he does not want to continue with chemo.

Dually Pupdate:

Week 4 of chemo in the books!

To be honest, I’ve been avoiding this update. For some reason I’m afraid if I share the positive results we’ve had so far I’ll jinx myself .. so here it goes

Dually just finished his 4th round/week of chemo. He has now had all of the meds they will cycle through and has not had a bad reaction to a single one. THIS IS WILD. For Dually, keeper of the stomach issues, this is truly an amazing feat.

We’ve decided that Tuesday will be Dually’s chemo day. This upcoming week Dually has a break from chemo meds, just a check in and a CBC (complete blood count) to ensure his body is still doing well in ways we can’t physically see immediately.

While there are still no promises, the fact that he has handled each drug well and remained himself over the course of the first 4-5 weeks we can almost assume he will do well for the remainder of the 16 weeks to finish treatment.

We took Dually with us as a family to a NYE celebration where we stayed the night at a friends. A place we’ve been many times with warm friendly faces and a place for the dogs to hide should they need a break. I’ll admit I was on edge for the majority of the night until Dually and his brother Rico snuggled into the beds we brought them towards the end of the night. Dually played endlessly with the puppy. I couldn’t believe it, he was like a puppy himself. In the morning our friends admitted they could not believe Dually was still himself. Alas, we have chosen the right course of medical action for Dually. This confirmed it for me, and for us as a family.

CHEMO UPDATE:

Dually is almost half way through his chemotherapy treatment! I cannot believe how well this journey has gone for Dually so far and I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity to give him a chance to seek the highest level of treatment possible. We've made many human and puppy friends along the way, and Dually is thoroughly enjoying his weekly truck rides and extra loves from the amazing cancer center staff.

CHEMO UPDATE:

Dually is just over the 1/2 mark of chemo treatment!

He is doing so well on this journey, I cannot believe I almost didn’t give him this chance

I cannot continue to thank you enough for your continued support, loving words and generosity.

Week 17:

3 weeks away from a full remission, Dually’s lymphoma has returned and split into 2 lymph nodes on the left side of his throat.

We change courses, he’ll try a CCNU.. his left lymph node that has split into 2 shrinks slightly but his right lymph node has flared back up

We try Tanovia.. and we await results for 3 weeks.

We understand that our time is limited at this point. But we will do everything we can to ensure he is comfortable, as the most important thing remains - he is still himself, going on his daily walks, ever loving pizza crust, chicken nugget fiend, snuggle bug.

At this time Dually remains himself, loving as ever - enjoying his daily walks, taking care of the chickens and basking in this cold New England weather he loves so much.

Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and send positive vibes his way!

From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU to everyone that has donated and shared words of encouragement.