Yesterday was our consultation with Dr. Greene, our radiologist at Stormont-Vail cancer center here in Topeka. There was some confusion about the time--one time given over the phone, another on MyChart--but we got right in. Dr. Greene showed us the scan, which showed a larger than I had expected tumor on vertebra L[umbar]-5. There were also small spots on two adjacent vertebrae. We agreed that I should start round four of ten radiation treatments. (Two had taken place in 2011 on my femur and on my scapula; another was a few months ago on a spot higher on the spine.) The decision didn't seem to be a very difficult one since in the past I have tolerated radiation rather well, I've been suffering from strong lower-back pains, and the past treatments have been effective. I'll start on either Friday or Monday. The most likely side effect, since this part of the spinal column is just behind the intestines, is digestive problems.
The consult was followed by a simulation where they scan the area and put long-lasting marks on my torso to indicate exactly where the radiation will go. They've stopped asking whether I want these x's to be tattooed.
On the day before (Tuesday), Kimber had gone under the knife. She has had a large fatty tumor under her abdomen, one we had been "waiting and watching" to see what developed. But recently it seemed to have gotten considerably larger. When we took her in for an exam, the vet noticed another growth on her right muzzle/neck. She's always had extra fur there, belying my attempts to make her almost entirely a German shepherd. Because we see her every day, we hadn't really noticed that this growth too was enlarged. The vet spotted it immediately and was more worried about that, fearing it might be lymphocytic cancer. So Tuesday both growths were removed. The one under her belly was even bigger than it appeared, weighing in at two pounds, but certainly just fatty. The one on her neck was more complicated to remove, entangled as it was with nerves and muscles. The vet is almost sure that it too is just a fatty tumor, but it's been sent off to the veterinary school at K-State to be biopsied.
Kimber was completely out of it Tuesday evening. Getting her into the car was the first major ordeal. Once home, she had no idea where she was or who we were, but instead of collapsing into sleep, she spent the next four hours pacing. She'd walk into a corner and then be unable to figure out how to get out. Although we were worried about her and tried to get her to lie down, she was also driving us nuts with four hours of her nails clicking against hardwood. She finally collapsed. She's better now, and rather pleased that in order to get her to swallow her pills, we've begun feeding her canned dog food.
Poor Mohamed now has two sickies to take care of. But he's hanging tough.
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