Mosey May, Chemo, and Me

Still in Remission!

2012-03-04T18:13:00.002-07:00

Mosey got her most recent chemo maintenance injections on Thursday, and she's still in full remission! We're aiming for injections just every eight weeks now. All of the vets and vet techs commented on how happy and social she was. She had no fear of the injections. She's been in full remission for almost four months now! We're currently celebrating in Sun Valley. Mosey and I love going on road trips and exploring new places together. Just like old times.

The Little Husky That Could

2012-01-18T16:59:00.000-07:00

Mosey had another round of chemo injections last week. She was a champ as usual, and she's still in remission! She's been in remission for about two months now, which is a relief, since her first remission - when she was on the Madison, WI, protocol - only lasted a few weeks.

Now she's on the MOPP chemo protocol, which was the hardest and perhaps best decision I've ever made. She'll be getting injections just once every 6 weeks now - maintenance chemo. She sprints up and down the trail on our hikes, and I can hardly keep up with her. Amazing, especially for a dog with aggressive T-Cell Lymphoma.

Here's hoping this remission will last! Seems we've finally found the right drugs.

Mosey was Huge in 2011!

2012-01-03T17:12:00.001-07:00

I didn't need a trendy Facebook app to tell me how special Mosey is, but here it is. My time, energy, and love have been unquestionably well-spent. Mosey entered 2012 in remission. Happy New Year to all!

My year in status updates:

No Mosey! No Trident Gum! No!

2011-12-22T19:24:00.002-07:00

So much for keeping Mosey on the perfect anti-cancer diet. I came home to this the other day:

Mosey had eaten almost a whole pack of Trident Layers chewing gum. She broke into my roommate's room and stole the full pack.

I looked up the ingredients, and luckily, Trident Layers is the only brand of Trident that does not contain Xylitol, an artificial sweetener that can be toxic to dogs. I was still worried sick, and I called two vets who assured me she'd probably be fine.

So while I'm sure this gum thieving incident was not exactly healthy for Mosey, it seems she'll be okay. She had diarrhea last night, but her energy and appetite seem normal today. Thank god for the doggy doors. Mosey went out into the snowy backyard in the middle of the night and tidily did her business in a far corner of the yard. This was an act of desperation, since Mosey almost never goes on our property.

I'm hoping the gum and wrappers are out of her system now. I'm also hoping the claim that gum stays in one's system for seven years if swallowed (which I seem to remember from elementary school, along with talk of Pop Rocks fatalities), is an urban legend.

It's the prednisone (a steroidol part of her treatment) that's causing Mosey to want to consume everything. She even went after the Crest White Strips I bought in hopes of a brighter smile for the holidays. Here's Mosey's posture of shame upon realizing I'd discovered her loot:

Awwww. It's okay Mosey! Just no more junk food when I feed you Alaskan salmon, organic beef, and boneless, skinless chicken breasts daily. Plus, you have special treats coming for Christmas!

Chemo Success and Possible Remission!

2011-12-08T18:14:00.001-07:00

Mosey got her chemo injections without a hitch today, and her vet said she is in remission. I am hopeful, but hesitant to get too excited about this remission news. The last time Mosey "went into remission," it was only about 10 days before her lymph tumors were back in full force. That's when we realized we needed to change protocols.

When Mosey had an initial bad reaction to this new MOPP protocol, I nearly gave up hope of her going into a true, lengthy remission. My goal became to just stabilize her cancer. Now that there's hope of true remission again, I'll have to start planning more hikes and cross-country treks! (But again, after our experience last time, I can't get too excited just yet.)

Here's Mosey smiling (sort of) while getting her injections today. She's so calm. What a trooper!

Chemo Day

2011-12-08T10:12:00.001-07:00

It's chemo time again. This afternoon, Mosey and I will drive over Teton Pass to Spring Creek Animal Hospital in Jackson for her monthly chemotherapy injections. She'll get three injections: mustargen, a chemo drug that can be very dangerous to administer; vinblastine, a milder chemo drug; and celenia, an anti-nausea drug.

Then Mosey will take another chemo drug, procarbazine, in oral form, for two weeks. (This drug comes in the alarming biohazard bag above.) She will also take prednisone for two weeks and the oral form of the anti-nausea drug for eight days.

So if you're counting, that's three chemo drugs, one steroidal drug, and one anti-nausea drug. Yikes!

This chemo protocol is known as MOPP, and it is Mosey's second chemo protocol. She started with the Madison, Wiscosnin protocol, which basically didn't do much to kill her cancer cells. The MOPP protocol is more aggressive. Deciding whether or not to put Mosey through it was the hardest decision I've ever had to make. I went through major anxiety over the decision, and I almost backed out at the last minute.

When Mosey first started the MOPP protocol, her white blood cells completely crashed and she had to be hospitalized overnight . It was the worst I've seen her. Twenty-four hours later, her blood test was normal, and she was wagging her tail, eating, and happily going on walks again. She's my Super Dog!

We're now about four months into the MOPP protocol, and (as shown in my previous post) she's been happily sprinting around like a sled dog again! So hopefully, I've made the right decision, and these are the right drugs for her type of aggressive, T-Cell Lymphoma.

Mosey's MOPP protocol was slightly adjusted for her unique needs. Typically, the protocol includes vincristine rather than vinblastine. Mosey did not respond well to vincristine during her first protocol, so we switched to a different drug in the same class. The protocol is also typically given every three weeks, but after Mosey's hospitalization scare, I decided on once a month.

We'll be off to our appointment soon! I'll post an update when we're home. First, I'm taking Mosey on a nice, long walk.

Mosey's Still Got It!

2011-12-04T16:31:00.001-07:00

Mosey and I hiked up Moose Creek on Sunday. It's one of our favorite local trails. Nothing makes me happier than seeing Mosey run free in the snow. Pure elation! This short video sums up how well she's been doing lately. Go Mosey go! I'm hoping this is a sign that we've found the right diet and the right chemotherapy protocol. She's been sprinting like this every day lately. (The upload quality is better than the image that initially appears below, at least on my computer.)

Mosey's Anti-Cancer Diet

2011-12-02T19:13:00.001-07:00

Mosey's appetite has been great lately, perhaps a little too good. At 57 pounds, she's a bit pudgy for a female Siberian Husky, but it's a good sign that she's eating and keeping on weight. Rapid weight loss is a major sign of lymphoma's progression. Three months ago, we had a big scare when her white blood cells crashed after chemo, and she quickly lost five pounds. Now that her appetite is back to (or better than) normal, I'm trying hard not too spoil her with too much food.

Canine cancer specialists consistently recommend a high protein, low carb diet for lymphoma. Mosey starts each morning with a can of wild caught Alaskan pink salmon mixed with Purina's Fortiflora, which is loaded with naturally occurring microorganisms. I also add just a bit of chicken or beef. I'm currently using the Crown Prince salmon brand, 7.5 ounce cans. (I would love to give her fresh Alaskan salmon, but it's just too expensive here.) She also takes 2,000 mg of Omega 3 fatty acids and 100 mcg of Selenium each morning. Several sources recommend avoiding Omega 6 for lymphoma, so I was careful to read labels. I use Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet. I hide her supplements in a bit of Newman's Own canned organic beef, which includes additional nutrients for a balanced canine diet.

Her treats throughout the day are small pieces of human grade meat - either chicken or beef. I always cook the meat. A raw diet can be dangerous for dogs on chemo, because the risk of infection is too high. I typically boil or bake the chicken and saute the beef in organic olive oil. Mosey's treat time is also a good time for exercise and games. Mosey is great about sitting, staying, and then finding me in different parts of the house to earn her treat. I can go all the way down to the basement, and she'll stay until I call her name. Such a good girl!

For Mosey's evening meals, I alternate between beef and boneless, skinless chicken breasts. I add just a bit of organic brown rice and a tablespoon of Dogzymes brand Cornucopia, which includes a long list of veggie and herb powders. I also often add fresh broccoli, but she doesn't always go for it. Her evening supplements are 2000 mg of Omega 3, 100mcg Selenium, 400 IU Vitamin E , and 500mg Vitamin C. She takes her supplements easily with the Newman's Own food. I haven't been good about measuring the amount of meat I've been feeding her. If she gains any more weight, I'll have to start rationing!

I chose this diet based on recommendations from vets and information from two books: The Natural Vet's Guide to Preventing and Treating Cancer in Dogs and 42 Rules to Fight Dog Cancer. Every dog's dietary needs are different, but this diet seems to be working well for Mosey. She's been sprinting like a sled dog in the snow again. (Video to come!) I'm considering adding the amino acids arginineand glutamine to her diet. I've started taking most of the same supplements as Mosey, and my next goal is to begin feeding myself as well as I feed her!

Coming soon: Mosey's Chemo Protocols

Introducing Mosey May!

2011-11-24T13:00:00.002-07:00

Mosey May is a nine-year-old Siberian husky currently battling T-Cell Lymphoma, an aggressive form of cancer. She is also my best friend, my family member, and my inspiration for living joyfully in the face of adversity.

I adopted Mosey May on Valentine's Day, 2010, in Crested Butte, CO. Mosey gave me the courage to make a difficult, but necessary life change. Soon after adopting her, I quit a miserable job, went on a road trip across the American West (just Mosey and me), and discovered the small mountain town in Idaho we now call home.

While searching for my chance to become a first-time homeowner (with Mosey by my side at each house we considered), I began noticing small, but seemingly benign changes in Mosey's behavior. She didn't run quite as fast, she didn't want to hike quite as long, and she had a hard time jumping in the car. Then my roommate mentioned a lump.

In April 2011, just days after closing on my first home, I learned that Mosey had cancer. I'd bought the house with the doggy doors and the big, fenced-in backyard with Mosey in mind. She was given a six-week prognosis without chemotherapy treatment.

After the initial tears and the shock of Mosey's diagnosis, I had to pull it together to make an important decision. I could begin a relatively mild (but very expensive) chemotherapy treatment, which veterinary research suggested could give her, on average, another happy year, possibly two. Or I could face losing her in six weeks. The decision wasn't too hard, but it wasn't exactly made easy by the fact that I had a brand new mortgage in a bad economy. I was fortunate to be offered family financial assistance to help fund Mosey's treatment, and thus began our journey into the world of canine chemo.

This blog is testimony to Mosey's inspiring approach to battling cancer and enduring increasingly aggressive chemo. Seven months after her diagnosis, now on her second (and more aggressive) chemo protocol, Mosey still hikes in the Tetons, flirts relentlessly with the unneutered neighbor dog, chases chickens, and generally enjoys life. We also take plenty of time to just rest, be calm, and listen to relaxing music. Mosey prefers the early Wailers and the Pet Music series. She has no trouble falling into a completely meditative state. Her vets and vet technicians all say she is the calmest canine chemo patient they've had. I attribute her success thus far to her perfect combination of scrappiness and Zen calm.

I will be publishing articles here about Mosey's anti-cancer diet; her chemo protocols; our adventures in the Tetons; the possible causes of canine lymphoma; the alarming increase in canine cancer; cutting-edge canine cancer research; and the daily state of Moseyness.

This Thanksgiving, I am grateful that my best friend is still happily by my side in our beautiful, new home in the snowy Tetons.