Pug Drama and Four Rounds Later

You’d think I’d have more posts two months in with all this free time. One, I was never good at regular deadlines which is the only reason I didn’t go into journalism for a living. Two, on good days I want to be up and moving, not on the computer. Three, on bad days I don’t feel like doing much of anything and have little energy to focus.

Before we get into my news, you need to share in my trauma. It has a good outcome, but Oscar and I can’t be the only ones dealing with this. You’ve benefitted from pictures of Silas the pug, so come along in the latest episode of the old man’s body doing old dog things. I’ll spare you pictures, but it looked like something from an Alien movie or Cthulu-esque tentacles were growing from inside his jowls. There’s also a bump that’s grown on one of his legs. Naturally, we’re immediately thinking it’s cancer. Silas would think dealing with cancer is the best way to show solidarity.

We took him to the vet and had it checked out. They said the thing in his mouth is normal for older dogs. The bump does appear to be a tumor. They recommended removing it along with a bunch of his teeth which are in pretty rough shape – and also likely the cause of his nasty breath. I’m grateful that whatever is going on in his mouth is to be expected. Oscar and I were assuming the worst-case scenario; we can’t afford cancer treatment for both the pug and me.

Silas continues causing panic attacks when we shake his leg or poke him or tug on his tail and he STILL doesn’t wake up. I’m hoping for another year or two with the menace, but I’ll take what I can get.

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I’ve gone through four chemo treatments so far. The side effects of the fourth one have lasted longer than usual. I’m hoping it’s a fluke. I have a theory that it’s because I haven’t had something getting me out of the house and active early in the second week like I have the first three. If that’s the case, I need to find somewhere to go for a few hours on Sunday and get moving. It has to be indoors since the colder weather will not play nice with my neuropathy. Feel free to send suggestions. I can confirm walking in the mall led to retail therapy, so something a bit less expensive would be preferable.

Finishing four rounds meant it was time for a new CT scan to see if there had been any progress, and mine was scheduled for October 15th. Scanxiety came along with the usual “it’s gotten larger” and “another lymph node has it now” and “the last two months have been a waste and we’ll have to try something else that won’t be as easy”. It was cute hearing Oscar remind me when to drink the contrast cocktail. I’m a pro at CT scans after the last three years of regular follow-ups, but I let him remove the protective seal from the bottle as a way to support me. Normally I just stab a hole with my car key and use the straw.

The abdomen and pelvis scan results came back quickly and with no concerns. I had to wait out the night before seeing the chest scan results in my chart.

“There are a few small pulmonary nodules unchanged 8/18/2023, such as a 3 mm solid pulmonary nodule abutting the superior aspect of the right oblique fissure (3/115). No new or enlarging pulmonary nodules.”

“Decreased size of the enlarged right inferior paratracheal lymph node, previously demonstrating hypermetabolic activity on PET CT 9/5/2023, currently measuring 17 x 14 mm, previously 22 x 19 mm on 8/18/2023. Remaining mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes are unchanged such as a right superior paratracheal lymph node measuring 8 mm in short axis (2/26). No new or enlarging lymph nodes. Small hiatal hernia.”

The short answer: It’s working! It’s 43% smaller if I’ve done my math right. The other lymph nodes have no indications they’ll become a problem.

I’ve never heard of a hiatal hernia before, so I had to do a little digging. It’s when the upper part of the stomach pushes through the diaphragm. Normally the muscle tissue separating the two organs prevents this, but if the muscle tissue is weakened it can result in a hiatal hernia. A small one like mine doesn’t usually warrant much concern, but my oncologist says it is a lifetime deal. If it gets larger I’ll need surgery to correct it. It’s likely what’s causing my heartburn to be so much more of a problem. It means I have to keep up on anti-acids, avoid eating before bedtime, and other dietary habits. The oncologist said it’s not uncommon to see. I guess it’s one of those things that comes with getting older. Happy 38th birthday! Here’s something new to deal with! Love, your body.

I’m so glad it’s working this well. They said if it keeps going this smoothly they can take the Oxaliplatin out of the cocktail. That’s the one that damages the DNA of cells and stops it from being copied and is part of the infusion at Huntsman. They mentioned radiation might still be involved after all 12 rounds are finished. I’ll deal with that once we get past the next CT scan after round 8.

Now I have to decide what I want to do to celebrate!