Murphy's a tough ole boy and it's just like him to have a tumor with serious resolve. In Dr. Withrow's words despite 18 doses of radiation we've only stunned it. He thinks the original mass is 'stable' but I'm not convinced. From the PET scan you can see how it is lysing the bone tissue of the left orbit.But that's not the bad news. There are two new growths and while we're having them biopsied today there's really no doubt they're malignant. The one that's causing grave concern is growing in his pharynx the slender space that takes oxygen from the snout to the lungs. If you look at the picture nearby the pharynx is the narrow corridor cut between the eyes. That's problematic. Like bottlenecked traffic at some point it'll stop the flow of air through his nasal passages entirely.
We're not at the point yet of discussing euthanasia so don't go there. Dogs don't have quit in them and I'm not about to quit on Murphy. People are the only species on this planet who give up on life.
Aside from bloody discharges and 'pharyngeal gagging' which is like a reverse sneeze, Murphy's doing quite well. It's his strength I'm convinced that'll be our greatest asset in this fight. However, hard decisions are on the horizon.
There's no good model I can look at this in humans as nasal cancer is surprisingly rare. They say re-radiating is the only alternative left but I'll spend the weekend researching every options. I'll exhaust all possibilities and mortgage my soul if I have to.
For those of you who want to help, here's what we need: a comprehensive list of human adenocarcinoma drug trials. They'll probably be gastric or colorectal studies but if there's any therapy that this cancer is responding to in people, we need to know. Rather than email me the results please post everything to my wall on facebook. I want everyone to have access to this research.
Next, I need a near film quality camera. I don't know how much time Murphy has left but I want to document every minute of it. My camera doesn't have the quality so we need a loaner.
Thank you...
7 comments:
I hear in you a new resolve to tackle this head on, and I am glad. Do you still have a link where I can make a donation? Or, an address to send a check.
Keep on keepin' on there Big Dog. You and Murph are both strong, and you'll be close in our hearts and thoughts this hoiday season. Puppy Up!
All right, the fight becomes tough, but you are right, dogs don't quit...and we all have an obligation to Murphy (and all the others like him) not to wimp out on him. We need to march through whatever hell with him, conceding nothing, fighting for every inch, stubbornly refusing to surrender. Harness every ounce of hope and faith...and anger at Cancer...and bring it to the battle! We are with you both.
Oh dear Luke...my heart aches for you. Are you looking for digital or film?
Sorry to hear this. But like you said, Murphy's strength is going to be your biggest asset. And it is better to hope than not to.
I don't know if this would even be an option for you and your buddy, but when my 13 year old Dobie was diagnosed with Lymphoma I tried Cesium Chloride and noticed a significant shirkage in her tumors. I'm not a doctor or a scientist. I'm just an average person that simply did not want to give up.
oh dear. 4ever murphy.
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