Six days in to treatment

[etumukutenyak]

Brady is showing signs of responding well to chemo. Last week, just before starting the drugs, he had a packed cell volume (measure of red blood cells) of 11%, which is way low. Dangerously low, actually. He'd dropped from 27% in June, to 21% at the first oncology visit, to 11% a week later. One week from that low, he has rebounded to 22% -- doubled in 7 days. Of the past 7 days, he's been on steroid for 7, and the chemo for 4 out of 6 days.

This is incredible.

They want to see how he does after a solid week of chemo. Since that's difficult with the present formulation of sticky capsules (stressful for the giver and givee, let me tell you), we'll see once we get the oral suspension which should arrive in the next 2-4 days. I think I'll skip tonight's dose, as he's just finished a stressful visit to the vet, and deserves a wee break.

Phew.

In other cat news, I discovered why Cleo is getting more plump: she's been breaking into the cat food containers and bags on her own. Silly cat. I put the large bag of dry food in the hall bath and closed the door. Let's see how long it takes for her to drop a pound now.

Loki and Junie B are much the same.

In dog news, we confirmed that it is Hercules who likes to bark. We've ordered a collar for prevention of barking, and once that gets here, we'll be training him to stop. This will please the FG who cannot sleep through barking.

In other news, the stuff that I can neither confirm nor deny continues apace. Paperwork is processed. Plans are made. The not-a-best-woman waits for firm details.

(Doubled! In one week! I was hoping for a modest increase, say to 15%...)

Comments

[i-calql8.livejournal.com]

Doing the math (something I know more of than veterinary medicine) if an increase of 36.4% is 'modest', a 100% increase is remarkable. Granted, it's a small sample size (as statisticians are wont to say), but there seems to be a lot to be optimistic about. Would you happen to know the survival rate in these cases? Oh, and go, Brady!

If the prospective aftermath of your completely unconfirmed and totally hypothetical stuff leads you (rhetorically speaking) to travel to the Southwest, lemme know, m'kay? Just talking out of my hat, of course. Entirely 'what if' stuff, yanno.

[etumukutenyak.livejournal.com]

Survival rates for myeloma in cats is about 50%, but of those that do respond to treatment, their chances of surviving to a year (18-24 months, even) get better. Response to treatment is a fairly reliable indication of prognosis, so this incredible improvement suggests that his survival might be longer. Right now, he's dodged a bullet, and laughed at it.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

Again, my best wishes to Brady.

[etumukutenyak.livejournal.com]

Thanks!