UPDATE: September 26, 2005
Way to go, JASMINE!! You are doing terrific, and the doctors couldn't be more pleased with the results so far!! They didn't believe us when we told them about that ol' Irish Setter stubbornness, but you have made believers out of them now!!!!
She has an appointment on October 10th for the second dose of PEG-TNF. Her orders are no longer to maintain weight, but to actually GAIN weight!! In spite of the doctors' warnings, JASMINE has decided she doesn't want flu-like symptoms, so she is on unlimited exercise. Somebody had better warn the groundhogs and rabbits!!
Keep sending good thoughts JASMINE's way. We are just in the beginning stages of the study, and are entering into a phase where no one knows what will happen, as no other patients have made it this far. Not only has JASMINE made it, but she is still "...very bright and showing no ill effects..." according to today's report.
JASMINE, we are all very proud of you!!! Tell that mean old Katy to give you some extra peanut butter tonight! It's a whole lot cheaper than that special food they have prescribed ($8/day), but what can we say? You're worth every dime and then some!! Love ya, kiddo!!
UPDATE: September 21, 2005
JASMINE came home today!! She goes back Thursday for another MRI, and then again on Monday. The doctors are very pleased with the progress so far. JASMINE experienced very bad flu symptoms yesterday, but is feeling well today. There was temporary swelling of the tumor that has now subsided, and the days ahead should show a decrease in it's size as the PEG-TNF continues its work.
The doctors did note that she has an obsession with grasshoppers... that's our JASMINE!! She will require significant rest for the foreseeable future, so no more outings for the time being. :-(( Then again, knowing JAS, there's plenty to chase in the back yard!! :-))
Monday is expected to be a big day for the doctors, as they will have a fairly good idea after the MRI then to determine how well the tumor is responding to the treatment. They have several samples in the freezer for analysis, and will have more tomorrow and again on Monday. Even without having looked at those samples, the doctors have learned a lot from JASMINE, and will undoubtedly learn even more as time progresses. While we still haven't given up on a miracle for JAS, we do take comfort in knowing that she has provided invaluable information that will someday lead to a cure for fibrosarcoma.
UPDATE: September 18, 2005
JASMINE writes:
I'm doing good and had lots of fun today. Got lots of pics taken. I got to go see the prairie dogs...or at least where they live. I didn't like the head bandage, but was told it would be worth it...and it was. JAS
UPDATE: September 27, 2005
JASMINE writes:
Hi Mom! I got to celebrate that I'm now one week post-treatment and still doing very well. We would have celebrated last night, but I was a little groggy and just wanted to rest. Today, I entertained myself with the cat, got to chase several rabbits on our walk to the neighborhood mail koisk, and we even got to eat pasta for dinner! Katy asked Dr. Plaza what I might be able to eat as a special treat and she suggested pasta. I didn't get red sauce because it had onions that Katy won't let me eat, but she mixed mine with some pumpkin so it looked almost just like hers. It took me a couple minutes to figure out how to eat it since I haven't been eating solid foods, but once I figured it out, I also figured out that I really like pasta. It was yummy and I hope I get more!
Love,
JASMINE
P.S.
The cat is Tyler. He fascinates me and I fascinate him. He likes to watch what I'm doing. He watched me eat my pasta, but I didn't share any because it was all for ME!
