Straydog UPDATE posted SUNDAY 2/2/03 at ~7:00 p.m. CT

Pat Arnold's Daily Dog Log

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2 2003

Bad news and good news on the results of Davey's colon biopsies

      The bad news is that the colon biopsies Dr. Deen sent to the diagnostic laboratory indicate "spindle cell sarcoma" (cancer). The GOOD NEWS is that "the features of this sample suggest low-grade malignancy." After Dr. Morton, our regular vet, got the lab results from Dr. Deen, Dr. Morton called a veterinary oncologist, a Dr. Harris. She said that this type of cancer won't respond to chemotherapy and that it's in a very bad place for radiation. Dr. Harris also ruled out surgery because of the large number of tumors, indicating the cancer (tho low-grade) has spread significantly in the colon.

      Dr. Morton says that with this kind of low-grade cancer Davey may live a year or more, and Dr. Morton suggests we do nothing at this time other than to continue a high-fiber diet, which Dr. Deen had already prescribed (along with certain meds) for Davey's colitis.

      Having had a lot of experience cooking a very high-fiber diet of whole cereal grains (including brown rice, barley, oats, and other grains) and lightly cooked vegetables (including broccoli, carrots, leafy greens, cabbage and many other vegetables) both Bill and I have already begun cooking special meals for Davey, which so far he enjoys very much. This is a very inexpensive therapy, tho the amount of cooking involved is somewhat time-consuming.