May, 2002.  At the end of May, a tumour was discovered on Morgan's left anterior mammaries.  Dr. Fenner excised the tumour and performed a regional mastectomy as well as removing the inguinal lymph node.  Pathology report showed a malignant mammary adenocarcinoma, a very "hot" tumour. Margins were clean; however, the lymph node was not.  At this point in time, we have to wait for the surgery to heal and our appointment with the wonderful and talented Dr. Peter Slusser for treatment options.  She is happy and strong, and otherwise very healthy save for the occasional bout of spay incontinence, acts like a puppy, and makes sure that the entire canine pack knows exactly who is still in charge.  These all count in her favour for beating this back, as well as the superb and speedy surgery performed by Dr. Fenner within a few hours of my bringing her in for examination of the mass.  You cannot imagine how quickly it popped up and how big it got and how fast it got that big unless you saw the whole thing.  Studies have shown consistently that bitches spayed before their first heat cycle stand a nearly 0% chance of these fatal tumours; after the first heat cycle the odds leap to nearly 35% chance; and after the second heat cycle, the odds are the same as if the bitch cycled for 12 years, nearly 85%.  Of those affected, approximately 75% do not survive longer than 3 months in spite of surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.  The other 25%, provided the bitch is in good health otherwise, the tumour is caught early and excellent and speedy measures taken, may live a year or more.  Breeding makes no difference in the odds; it's the hormone cycling brought on by the normal estrus cycle that is the "bad guy" in these malignancies.  Early spay/neuter of pups can almost totally prevent both mammary cancer and testicular cancer (nearly 100% fatal).  So when the breeder insists that you spay or neuter your pup, please think about what's going to be happening 12 years down the line if you don't.  Think of the emotional burden and also the financial one ($3000 and counting).  And most of all, think of the ugly end that your wonderful companion faces, far short of what she or he would normally have.  And then spay early and neuter - for both of you.

We'll keep everyone updated on Morgan's condition as new reports are available.  Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers.  She's a tough girl from good, solid stock, and she's got the right attitude.  We hope for good news soon!

And good news we got indeed!  On June 14th Morgan saw Dr. David Hager DVM MD ACVR at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital in Rancho Santa Fe.  He came out of the room with a big smile on his face after the ultrasound and I just started crying because I knew the news was good.  At this time, she is clear!  That's not to say she'll always be clear, because with this type of cancer, it doesn't go away completely, just bides its time for awhile, but for now, we've no worries.  And Ingrid, who owns Morgan's handsome son Lyle, has her on a Chinese herbal regime that we will keep her on for as long as we can get it.

July Update:  Well, our hope was a bit short lived.  Just a month after the first tumour was removed, a second far more aggressive one popped up on the surgery site.  We had hoped it was just scar tissue and such, but Dr. Slusser took one look and ordered an immediate cytology.  Cancerous, and dangerously hot but it also didn't appear to be attached anywhere, just under the skin.  A few days later, Dr. Fenner went in and removed it, getting over 1 cm margins all around it.  Two days later, the pathology report was in - the margins were dirty, the cells were spreading rapidly, and Dr. Fenner had found a larger artery running through the middle of the mass when he removed it.  Back to Dr. Slusser we went and after viewing the report, it was decided between all of us to go ahead with an aggressive regime of chemotherapy, using adriamycin and cytoxan.   She had her first session, with the IV adriamycin, on July 10th, and depending on her white cell count on Friday July 19th, starts the three day round of cytoxan on July 20th.  Back for the IV adriamycin on July 31st and one more round of cytoxan and then we see where we are at.

She's a very strong, healthy girl; it took 3 days for her to finally lose her appetite after the first round of chemo.  And other than sleeping perhaps a bit more than normal, you'd never know she's literally fighting for her life.  Thus far, the chest and abdominal films and ultrasounds are clear; however, the decision was made that there would be no more surgeries even though she handled them both very well, even working stock two days after the first major surgery (not with permission, btw).  And, once the cancer invades her chest or abdomen, then we'll have to make a very, very difficult decision.   But with the chemo and the Chinese herbal therapy as well as strong nutrition and exercise, oh and of course, lots of belly rubs and butt scratches, we hope that we'll be in Bakersfield November 2-9 for the Australian Shepherd Club of America National Specialty with our nearly 13 year old Veteran; her entries are already filled out and waiting to be mailed!

August Update:  Second round of Adriamycin/Cytoxan began with the Adriamycin IV on July 31st.  The dosage was upped a bit, and she felt it a bit more afterwards than the first round, but by that evening had fully recovered and was back to normal.  This time, she didn't really lose her appetite at all.  On August 12th a small lump on the second surgical site was aspirated and examined; a plain ol' lipoma (fatty tumour).   We heaved a HUGE sigh of relief!  Her white cell count was awesome, so on August 13th she started her second round of Cytoxan.

Thus far, she seems to be doing just fine.  Her energy level is unbelievable for a dog heading for 13 years of age; most people cannot believe that she's that old or that she is battling cancer and undergoing chemo!  It will be great to see her strut around the ring again at Nationals this year, 10 years almost to the day from our first ASCA Nationals in Bakersfield in 1992.  So long as the chemo and the Chinese herbal therapies are doing the job, we'll just keep with the programme (to the tune of $500/month) and hope for the best!

September:  After a few setbacks with the chemo, she's finally done with it all.  Now, we just wait and keep our fingers crossed!

November Update:  Ah, Bakersfield!!  10 years ago almost to the day we made our first Nationals, Morgan and I, right there on those fairgrounds.  And when she went around the ring, last in the large 10+ Veteran Bitch class, probably for the final time, everyone stood up and cheered!  We finished our go round, me with tears in my eyes, Morgan with the "but of COURSE they're all cheering for me, just as they should be" look about her.  She had a good time the whole week, visiting with old friends, making new ones and generally parading around like the entire event was in her honour.  We left on that cold, dark and rainy night on the long trip home to San Diego happy it was over, but sad in some ways.  Next year is Wisconsin; you can bet the farm I'll be sending her entries in one more time if she's still with us when they open next May!

Late November Update:  Here we go again.  Now the right side has a lump.  No question this time, right after Thanksgiving it's coming out!!  We'll hope for the best, but figure it's the worst.

It was indeed.  And no good margins this time either.  Things aren't looking so good, but Dr. Fenner did the best he could.  We'll just continue with the routine of herbals and good food and keep our fingers crossed!

Late December Update:  One more time - the LAST time.  I will not be outvoted again.  Right about 30 days post op, tumour #4.  This one goes out January 2nd.  Poor Dr. Fenner!  He must not want there to be any more holidays!

January 2003 Update:  The path report was very bad this time.  Prognosis poor; margins heavily contaminated.  I think we're on borrowed time now.  Her 13th birthday party is in late February; it may well end up being a memorial/celebration of life party instead.  At least she seems happy and is still bopping around, eating well and not in distress.  One day at a time, that's what I keep telling myself....

February 22nd:  ...And a good time was had by all!  Yay, she made her party!  And in pretty good shape, sleeping quite a bit, but you can see from the pictures (photo gallery) that her appetite was just fine!  It was so good to see so many of her kids, grandkids and great grandkids turn out for the big day!  Next on the social calendar, The Boy's stockdog trials in April, Lodi California!

April:  She had a great time cheering (or maybe jeering) The Boy's triumphant weekend in Lodi. He made his great grandma really proud (I hope).  She watched many of the runs over the weekend and added her own commentary from time to time.  I think she could have done a pretty good job with those sheep and ducks on Saturday herself!

Next stop - Cayucos, the first week in June!

May 21st:  Today's the day - mailed off her entries for Nationals in Wisconsin in September. No refunds after July 21st, so I told her she can't miss!

June 6th:  For the 9th time in 11 years, she's back at Kathy Warren's stockdog camp, only not as a participant but as an observer/critiquer.  She's not doing all that great, just before we left she had gone on a mini hunger strike.  Only thing she'd eat was those nasty bright red smelly canine junk food things and peanut butter.  Maybe the fresh sea air and exercise up here will get her eating again.

On the last day of camp, after thinking on Monday that she might be coming home in a little box, she got her dearest wish - after the last dog had run, she went out and (sorta) put the sheep up. I know in my heart it was indeed the last time up here for her to do that.  And bless Kathy's heart for letting her do it.  She spent the last day (finally eating again!!) running up and down the fence while The Boy was working, yelling at him the whole time and trying to get into the arena.  As long as she is still breathing, she will be wanting to work.

On to Wisconsin!

Mid June:  Things are looking bleak.  She isn't eating enough to keep a bird alive, and has developed a rotten staph infection.  The massive dosages of Pred have nearly shut her immune system completely down.  Now we add Cephlaxon to the mix.  Oh joy.  One day she'll eat raw stew meat, the next she won't even look at it.  Ditto for everything else - baby food, cottage cheese, cat food, ice cream, cookies.  Good one time, not the next.  It doesn't seem to matter; no matter what she eats, she brings it right back up.  She still gets around, but the spark is fading. Back to Dr. Slusser we go.

Late June:  The time has come for her to start her Journey over the Bridge.  Nothing is staying down, and she's having a lot of trouble getting up now.  The coughing is much worse, and her lungs sound very congested.  We pulled blood today, the 23rd, to check to see if her liver and kidneys are functioning at all.  I wrote the dreaded email today, and made all the prearrangements for her cremation.  My mom called, in tears over her "granddaughter" and we talked about all the funny things she's done over the years.  For something we've been expecting for so many month (nearly 14!!), this is still one of the hardest things I've ever done.  The next few days are going to be very, very difficult.  Luckily, Dr. Fenner is going to come out to the house to start her on her Journey; that makes it so much nicer, calmer and quieter.  The San Diego Pet Memorial Park is so nice and easy to work with, they'll come out and pick her up (no way I can make that 30 mile drive afterwards).  Dale took pictures of her eating butter pecan ice cream this evening, out of my spoon.  Of course, she nearly immediately brought it all back up.  But she enjoyed it going down.

Everyone has been calling and emailing me.  My younger brother Stan is thinking of coming down for the cremation (we're doing a private) from Santa Maria, and my neighbour's will be coming to say their final goodbyes.  She'll get one more visit to the Fair to watch her great grandson in the stockdog trial that she did for so many years on Tuesday night, then Wednesday or Friday we'll help her onto the Bridge.  All her angels are gathering there now, eagerly awaiting her arrival.

God, this is so hard.

June 25, 2003:  At just a few moments after the clock chimed 6 pm, Dr. Fenner eased her from this world into the next.  She went to her next life as she lived this life, with grace, dignity and elegance, quietly and with a gentle final sigh.  Heaven has a new angel.

Cancer Support Group Links

Pet Loss - Outstanding website for ailing and passed on pets

 Canine Cancer - awesome support group on Yahoo Groups

Canines with Cancer - another great support group on Yahoo