The Story Goes On...But How Would You Know?

I have been really bad about posting. It has been a rather busy month, both work-wise and personally (we celebrated our anniversary and my birthday) And I suppose it's true that anything...even cancer treatment can become routine. I feel particularly bad I haven't shared this photo, showing Millie and the great team at VEC we visit most weeks now. Notice how happy and relaxed Millie is....she just can't figure out why Dad is playing with the black box instead of her!
They continue to be wonderful with Millie and Millie has been as good and patient with the process as she has from the beginning.

She also has not lost as much hair here as she did over the next several weeks. The irony is, although she has not lost a single pound, the hair loss on her face has actually given her a little of that emaciated look we associate with human chemotherapy patients:

The sides and underside of her nose are almost bare and she has lost so much hair around her eyes she looks like she has black eyes. Her skin has always been variegated and the hair loss has really revealed that. She still is cute, though!

The timing seems to be bad as well, going into winter.
Millie usually adores cold weather, and particularly snow....will just bury her face in it...this winter, she may need a coat! We are assured that when the treatments end, the hair will grow back! Till then, vacuuming daily!

We are now exactly in the middle of the full course of treatments, in the midst of her "break" before starting the beginning of the third set of four four-treatment sets. The last treatment of this past set was, once again, the Doxirubican.  This time, we prepared and treated with antinausea and antidiarrheals from the start. She had a little dip in appetite, but no vomiting or diarrhea and her energy level has remained good.

We also dealt with a separate problem which was not caused directly by the chemo, but perhaps may have been exacerbated by her fatigue from the treatments. Millie has had a few spats of incontinence, which has never been an issue for her, but is not unusual in spayed females of her age. After a checkup and discussion with Alex (and one more incident) we decided to put her on medication for that....so far, so good!  It is worth pointing out that dogs definitely learn.....Millie has quickly gotten really good at avoiding pills in just about anything...even peanut butter, the magical canine pill elixir!  

Here at the halfway point...I must say I have not for one minute regretted our decision to do this. There have been hurdles but it has been remarkably smooth most of the way and Millie's energy and happiness level  have remained high. The only thing I really wanted for my birthday? For Millie to be here for my next one!