Good luck Lulu!

Lulu has just had her last meal before tomorrow's procedure. Because she will be anesthetized for each treatment, she has to fast 8 hours before she is put under. She will be a very grumpy dog for the next 4 weeks!

This will be the last time in several months that we'll see Lulu's face like this. Tomorrow they will shave the right side of the nose/muzzle that needs the radiation treatment and there will be a 50/50 chance that the hair in that area will grow back. I'm not sure how big of an area they will treat but we'll find out tomorrow I suppose.

P.S. The prednisone makes Lulu farty.

Park!

It's the last weekend before Lulu starts radiation and chemotherapy treatments. We wanted to take her out to play but I was a little worried that her no-collar restriction would make the dog park and hike too tough. Instaed, we let them romp around our neighborhood park. Lulu had a great time (as she always does) and even saw her first hummingbird. She just doesn't smile like this indoors!

Misery is...

Misery is having an itch you can't scratch. Poor Lulu is stuck in her cone and unable to scratch her ears, nose or lick herself. That doesn't mean she isn't trying -- she halfheartedly lifts a leg here and there and when she remembers the cone is blocking her progress she just slumps into a huge sigh and goes to sleep.

The Cone of Shame

I came home to find Lulu in an e-collar. Apparently I spoke to soon and just today she started scratching fervently at her neck so my mom put it on her. Seeing as radiation therapy is starting next week as well, it looks like Lulu will be stuck in the cone of shame for quite a while.

Back to her usual, anti-social self.

Lulu is back to her quiet, anti-social self. She spent most of the evening yesterday downstairs (alone) on her favorite couch but responds quicker than normal to my regular "Who wants vitamins?" call. (Vitamins are popular in our household as they are made of chicken liver.)

I am surprised at how clean and dry the surgical site has stayed, with just slight staining as tiny drops seep out of the scar. Do dogs heal faster than humans? I am also surprised that Lulu doesn't scratch or rub at it -- it doesn't seem to bother her at all.

Cora, however, is extremely distracted by Lulu's new smells and also acting like a complete whine-baby, protesting while that Lulu gets all of the attention. Can we say high maintenance?

Meanwhile Dr. Lyons wants to move up Lulu's radiation therapy so we will be starting next Monday instead of after the July 4th holiday weekend. Her treatment will be Monday through Friday for 4 weeks straight. It's a good thing City of Angels has wi-fi in their lobby.

Dear Friends

Thank you so much for all of your support and kind words as my family and I go through this difficult time! It's only been a couple of weeks and yet I still don't feel as if Lulu "has cancer"... the word cancer itself still seems surreal and far fetched yet here we are making it through treatments to remove this vicious tumor.

I've created this blog to document Lulu's progress as she goes through treatment for an aggressive mast cell tumor, mostly for myself but also to share with all of you. It somehow makes it easier for me to be able to talk to myself about these things rather than randomly announce details about Lulu's treatment on Facebook or Twitter. I wanted a dedicated place to document my thoughts, research, emotions, information and just anything I run into while Lulu is on the fast track to recovery while keeping my everyday life as normal as possible.

Please check back often for updates as I will be here posting as often as I can. I hope to be adding information and resources to this blog as well in case anyone in the same situation needs information or referrals. Please pray for our little one as she goes through this difficult time and think positive thoughts!

Love,
Sheena

When did it start?

I was going through old pictures to pinpoint when that little growth on Lulu's nose started to appear when I ran into this picture taken about a year ago when Cora was still a puppy.

Looks like the tumor wasn't around yet, BUT, this seems to be the start of Cora's obsession with Lulu's ear.