6.19.2007: (scroll down for updates) Alex (our sweet, wonderful, 6 1/2 year-old lab) had been limping for a couple of days. We took her to the vet where they found a lump on her leg and from the x-ray thought it was bone cancer. We had a biopsy done and they aren't sure what type of tumor it is exactly, but most likely is Osteosarcoma. Here's the diagnosis...by the time they find a lump it has spread throughout the system. Life expectancy without treatment is 6 months. With treatment (amputation and chemo) it's usually a year. We have scheduled an amputation of her back right leg. The amputation is palliative, as bone cancer is extremely painful. This will make her remaining days quality ones, once the few weeks it takes her to recover from the surgery are over. We hope that within a month she will be able to run with Amie, go on long walks by the river with Niles, and play with other dogs; things that she loves but are too painful for her right now, even with the multiple painkillers she's on.

As you can imagine, this is pretty hard on us - I am sure you all know how much she means to us, and we know that many of you love her as well. Only one more year is not enough. But we are going to try to make it a good one for her, and hope for the best (that maybe she can beat the odds). We won't be able to travel much in the coming months but both Alex and her parents love company so please come visit us in NY!

If you want to read more about it, here is a great website: bonecancerdogs.org.

3.01.08:Alex's chemo is over and she feels good. She has always wanted a puppy so now that her immunity is not compromised by the chemo, we got her one! She loves wrestling with Olive and is acting like a puppy again herself. After a round of tug-of-war, they curl up together and nap. Olive can't get close enough to Alex - she loves her!

12.18.07:Alex had her 7th (of 8) Chemo and did great as always. As it had been 6 months since diagnosis we took another set of x-rays to see if there was any cancer growth in her heart or lungs. The x-rays showed her chest still clear! While it’s impossible to tell if the cancer has begun to grow in other bones or if it is in tiny specs in the heart and lungs, this at least lets us know that there is no large growth in the heart and lungs, which is great. Alex is enjoying herself visiting with family and friends in North Carolina and getting lots of Christmas treats.

10.15.07: Alex is still having a great time. Her fourth chemo treatment was a little rocky for a couple of days, Alex felt a little queasy, but her anti-nausea medicine helped. After a day or two she felt fine again. Almost every day she gets to enjoy long walks with her un-employed dad. Once or twice a week she gets to have a short run with mom. Last weekend we all went to a dog festival and met tons of dogs. Pictures of some cute and some silly looking dogs coming soon.

7.30.07: Alex is doing soo well. We went to the dog park and she was a champ! She played so well and ran as if she was 4 legged...we took her to the vet for her white blood cell test (the peak of this chemo treatment; white blood cell count good - slightly below normal. No need for concern but we are keeping her on her anti-biotics) the vet was pretty shocked at how different she was from two weeks ago when we took her in to get her stitches out (while she was still blue). She was like - this is a whole different dog! Today was the first day she actually met the real, pain-free Alex. She also was shocked that she was having no side effects to the chemo ... they would have peaked the day before and so far...nothing. Granted, we did the easier chemo first, so we aren't totally out of the woods with side-effects, but so far so good! Pictures from the dog park here.

7.18.07: The day after the last report, Alex started to perk up. With the stitches out she was pain-free and rid of her “lampshade” and pain medicines. She finally began to eat (something she had done very little of in the previous week). By the time Niles returned home from Black Mountain Tuesday night she was her regular, silly, sweet old self again. Last weekend the three of us went on a very therapeutic road trip. In CT, Alex got to see most of the people she used to work with, all of whom fawned over her. There was even a picture of her with Curtis in the slide show at the memorial, so we know she was glad to have been nearby (in the car during the service). Then we were off to Boston, where we stayed with Devon and Andrea. Alex’s friend, Fenway, was very insistent that she play with him, even when she told him she’d rather not. His persistence paid off and she played a little, getting used to the rough-housing while balancing on the one back leg. Monday, after returning home, Alex and Amie went for a very short run, to see how she’d do. She pulled the whole time, so excited to be back out there. The running motion seems to actually be a little more natural than the walking, so she was ready to go. We cut it short for fear of her over exerting herself, since she’s been pretty inactive the last few weeks. We will try a little bit longer of a run today, if the weather holds out.

7.10.07: Alex had her first chemo treatment yesterday and she was a champ! She also got her stitches out as her wound has healed nicely. She has been pretty reluctant to do anything all week. We think it’s a combination of the horribly muggy weather and the medications making her queasy and depression from the getting used to not having the leg. When we make her go out she is doing really well. Going down our steep stairs is a breeze. Going up is a little tougher and takes longer but she can do it by herself. Now that she is better physically, we are going to take her to do some of the things she likes, like going to the dog park, in hopes that she will cheer up. She has appreciated the cards and treats she’s gotten from people, so thanks to everyone who sent something.
For the chemo, we are doing a combination of two drugs. The first (Carboplatin) was given yesterday and kicks in in 2 weeks. The next (Adriamycin) will be in 4 weeks and will kick in after about a week. Then, 3 weeks after the second drug, we do the first again and so on. If you want to read more about the treatments, go here.
Lastly, Alex wanted to make sure we sent special thoughts to her friend and CT dog-sitter, Curtis, who died this week at a very young age from his Asthma. She got a lovely get-well card from him just days before, so she is happy he was thinking about her. We all will miss him.

7.3.2007: Alex had a good weekend – we think she was excited to be home and she wanted to walk faster and further than we allowed. We must have still let her do more than she should have because since Sunday night she’s been pretty uncomfortable. She’s been acting like she’s not feeling well, roaming the apartment unable to get comfortable, and was very reluctant to go out last night. The vet said she probably just over did it so to make her rest. So she is resting, best she can. We are both home tomorrow for the 4th so we’ll hang out at the house with Alex trying to avoid fireworks, or comfort her if we happen to hear any. Shouldn’t be a problem in our neighborhood but you never know.

6.28.07: We talked to the vet around noon yesterday (the day after the surgery). She said Alex was doing well, considering. She was eating and not messing with her stitches. The vet hadn't challenged her yet, was just letting her get used to the fact that there was a leg missing. She said she was a very tough girl. And so sweet and loyal. It sounded like she was surprised at how tough she is. But we already knew all that. We talked to her again at 5 and they said she was doing great still - vet had made her walk around a bit. This morning, we got a message from the vet that said “Alex is doing VERY well. I am really impressed with you dog. She is really something else.” We get to pick her up at 4:30 and we can’t wait! We miss her so much!

Tomorrow I will post the next steps that we will discuss with the vet today. Also, will post a link to some pictures, for those who are interested.

6.26.07: We just heard from the vet and Alex is doing well. She has woken up from her anesthesia and is breathing on her own and stable. Dr. Kamps said the surgery went very well, no excessive bleeding or any complications. She will call us again first thing in the morning with an update. The tentative schedule is to pick her up Thursday, depending on how recovery is going.

6.21.07: Alex's surgery is scheduled for Tuesday. They will keep her 2 nights and if she's going well we can pick her up on Thursday. It's pretty hard to feel good about it because she's pretty happy right now - painkillers are working and her only complaint seems to be that I am not taking her running (for fear of a very painful break in the brittle bone). But we are assured by many that it's the right thing to do. We are also told that the first week we are going to think "What did we do?!?" The vet said we would hate her that week, and that was fine. But after a couple weeks, she would be fine and after a month, we would be fine. My mom's friend who is a few months ahead of us in this process said the following, which seems to be inline with everything I have heard: "We amputated his back right leg on a Wednesday, at a teaching university vet hospital, and he came home on Friday. To be honest, I've never cried so much in my entire life. I wasn't sure we had done the right thing, the first few days were hell. We're now 3 months out, and everything has turned around. He walks & runs like he's always had 3 legs. I think at first, he was bitter. He's over that now, and back to his old self. If it's possible, I love him more than ever." So next week will be rough for all of us - looking forward to enjoying her company this weekend and getting through next week.

Thanks to everyone who has expressed concern. If you have anything you want posted in this section, email me and I will post it!

Left, Alex checking out Fern's turtle, Jerry, while in Colorado on our '03 roadtrip.