Dogs and chemo: Calling all dog-lovers!

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  • kuhnkl
    kuhnkl Member Posts: 4
    edited June 2014

    Thanks for the kind words. He is my baby. I am following up with the surgeon next week an will see how things progress from there.

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  • yensmiles
    yensmiles Member Posts: 260
    edited June 2014

    Today i walked my dogs!!!! And it's especially significant for me because it's the day i've had my first chemo session, and was acceptable for me..plenty of energy (maybe the steroids) and positive energy! :)

    kuhnkl, hope good things come out from the surgeon's visit for your baby! 

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  • Radical2Squared
    Radical2Squared Member Posts: 460
    edited June 2014

    Yensmiles,

    I'm teary eyed. Isn't it amazing how walking the babies feels so good? I worry about energy, but more than anything I worry about being out in the sun...and it's getting hot!

    The boys want to be outside playing, but I'm going to be running from the sun... I did buy 70 and 100 sunblock though. Anyone know if it works well enough to tempt fate?

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  • Infobabe
    Infobabe Member Posts: 1,083
    edited June 2014

    Are you taking rads, Radical?  If you are fearful of the sun, wear a long sleeved shirt, broad brimmed hat, etc.  Just cover up.

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  • yensmiles
    yensmiles Member Posts: 260
    edited June 2014

    Radical2Squared, the sun is worrying! I even covered my face and arms while travelling back from the hospital yesterday evening. 

    hmm.. is it safe to take your boys out in the late evening or very early morning? My dogs enjoy it anytime of the day.. though haha, they enjoy it better when they can see everything clearly, but thus far, we do walk them at nights when we're too busy and can't make it home early enouh, and am planning to perhaps continue walking some of mine at night.. afraid of the poop handling though..especially when it's the critical days 5-8 of my chemo regime where the low blood levels occur. 

    and i think infobabe's suggestion of hat and sleeves would be great! :)

    hmm.. do you have natural coconut available where you are? or this isotonic drink called 100plus? both helps with "heat" and "fever" and very effective for me in super-hot country of Malaysia. If you're going to be getting some sun, balance it with these "cooling" drinks. I plan to go and get some coconut today..cos my throat is already parched from the chemo. 

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited June 2014

    Oh dear. I see you are getting Taxotere, and your throat is dry. That's how my "severe allergic reaction" to Taxotere started. PLEASE! Watch yourself very carefully! If you have swelling, numbness, or just don't feel right, call your doc!!!!!

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  • yensmiles
    yensmiles Member Posts: 260
    edited June 2014

    omigoodness, thanks for the alert Spookiesmom! been up all night drinking and peeing.. and have slight swelling and flushed face.. just took my dose of dexamethasone after eating something a bit more substantial than my morning juice so i can have the evening dose at a decent time.. what happened in your severe reaction?

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited June 2014

    It was awful!!! Google hand foot syndrome. I had it ALL over my body. I swelled up, had to get my rings cut off. It hurt to walk. I peeled skin like a bad sunburn, all over. Lost Every nail, feet too. Absolutely horrible. Couldn't hold a fork to eat, water hurt to much to shower, numbness too. I'm still numb on my feet, that won't resolve. 

    I was supposed to have 4 cycles of it, my doc stopped any further chemo. I had the A/C first, hope it worked. 

    Please, call your doc, let them know what's going on. 

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  • lyzzysmom
    lyzzysmom Member Posts: 654
    edited June 2014

    Oh Trish, Here I am on a breast cancer forum waiting to get my oncotype next week and I am actually feeling excited because I recently started a course in professional photography with a dream of becoming a pet photographer when I retire. I had let it slide the last couple of months and then I see your gallery. It is fabulous and those dogs are so adorable!! It has given me that kick in the behind that I need to  get me back on track and give me something to aspire to. I bookmarked your website.

    Here is a picture of my Boston Terrier Lyzzy. She needed two knee surgeries and my husband was in tears when we took her for her first op. He seemed OK with my lumpectomy, LOL.  How do you explain to a little dog that she cannot run or jump or fetch or tug for 2 months? Now nobody would notice that she has "bionic knees" when she is chasing her frizbee.

     She likes to lick my husbands face  but I think she thinks my face is dirty when I put on my face cream. That is when she wants to lick most but I can't imagine it would be good for her. She has had some scary allergies although they are not so bad as she has gotten older. When she was about one she came out in huge hives so we always kept some children's allergy medicine on hand. She is five now and the first dog I have ever had. We don't go out as much as we used to because she gives us that look that only a dog can! We are happy to have take out and eat at home rather than than go to a restaurant and see that little face waiting in the window when we get back! Are we crazy?! I never knew until we got her just how much love and joy they bring. 

    Sorry this is so big. I tried making it smaller but it didn't work.

    image

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  • yensmiles
    yensmiles Member Posts: 260
    edited June 2014

    oh what a cute dog Lyzzysmom! :) I love it when photos capture their eyes! 

    Spookiesmom, that sounded awful, i've googled the hand foot syndrome before and one of my main hesitation to chemo was Taxotere.. because of the side effects.. thus far, am okay..peeing more today.. and i think i will keep up with the juicing and my regular diet of loads of fruit+vegie with fruit. Hope all my 4 cycles will be a breeze... am a bit concern cos my doctor didn't order neulesta or gcsf shots for me.. so i assume they'd do it only if i need it instead of prevention.. my oncologist doens't like it because of the bone pain it'd cause when herceptin and taxotere would already give heaps of bonepain. Adriamycin is a strong drug, so you have already something powerful that works! Did you stop after just one shot of Taxotere? 

    I'm tempted to walk my dogs again tonight.. still a couple more days to the possible lowest white and red blood cell counts... 

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited June 2014

    Yes, I got the Nulasta shots the day after each A/C. They never bothered me, sure made up for it with the T. There was no more chemo, 5 cycles. Now I'm scared that if it does come back, what are my options?  Wait and see I guess. 

    Sure, if you can, keep moving. The pups will love it. 

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  • yensmiles
    yensmiles Member Posts: 260
    edited June 2014

    Spookiesmom, think positive and stay healthy! Curcumin (best taken with omegas + pepper) kills cancer cells naturally. You've already had 5cycles of chemo..and Adriamycin is strong and recommended when there's node positive.. so power is there! I am eating loads of fish these days..even before chemo, well seasoned with turmeric powder/natural root and steamed sprinkled with some pepper. when i make lentil soups, i add turmeric in to. It's also an interesting spiced drink, if you add natural honey with turmeric! :) or ginger with honey! I read somewhere royal jelly is not good for breast cancer, though honey itself helps kill those cancer cells! 

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  • Radical2Squared
    Radical2Squared Member Posts: 460
    edited July 2014

    I think my poor baby boy has become a bit overprotective since I started chemo....

    I'm a mess over this. Yesterday, I let him out to go make and he charged through the electric fence and bit a girl on the butt who was jogging by. He's never bit, and never charged the fence before. The kids accords the street ride bikes and play in the street all the time and he stays in the yard.

    The Animal Control officer is not ticketing me b/c I do have the fence (and he took one look at my bald head and added...."you don't need this in your condition) not sure if that was a good thing.

    I called the fence guy who immediately cranked the fence up to 10 and expanded the distance from the road the dog can go. The girl went to the hospital and they gave her antibiotics just in case. I have to keep my dog at my side with no contact to others for 10 days.

    I'm so mad at my dog...but at the same time grateful he thinks he needs to protect our property. I just wish he understood the road is not our property!

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  • yensmiles
    yensmiles Member Posts: 260
    edited July 2014

    oh gosh Radical2Squared, what an experience. And it's so sweet that he wants to protect you. Am thankful that the AnimalControlOfficer is understanding! Guess a naked head can be a blessing too! :) how have you been keeping?

    my pooches thinks the side lane and the road in front of our house is theirs too and would bark at every stranger passing by (besides the neighbours, thankfully!) and they also think the field/playground at the back of our house is theirs too and would react to new dogs/people.. 

    my dogs have been quite understanding..all 5 are now sleeping in the living room, though they'd always come upstairs and wait at my door in the morning.. one would bark just to wake me up if i'm not out by a certain time.. they look at me with curiosity when i put on my wig occasionally, just to go out and get the laundry that's sun-drying or water the plants.. it is tough not being able to hug and kiss and carry them.. though i still touch them occasionally, and then disinfect immediately.. :( 

    wishing all well, and sending positive thoughts.. 

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  • Radical2Squared
    Radical2Squared Member Posts: 460
    edited July 2014

    Thanks Yen. It's funny...I love up on him even through chemo. He used to be a locker but since I've been doing chemo, he won't lick me...guess I smell like toxins!

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  • yensmiles
    yensmiles Member Posts: 260
    edited July 2014

    LOL! that's one smart dog! :) My oncologist/nurses didn't tell me this, but a friend (whose dad is doing chemo elsewhere) was told NOT to share toilet for at least the first two days.. guess there's really heaps of toxins in us right now! 

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  • Radical2Squared
    Radical2Squared Member Posts: 460
    edited July 2014

    Well, I don't want to kill off any family members...furry or not! Lol

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