Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Billi update

Billi is at a specialist in Brisbane. The consult today revealed a mass near her bottom - and secondaries under her spine. They're operating tomorrow and it will be major surgery - and there's a lab on site so they'll be able to do biopsies and blood tests straight away so they can do what they need to. They'll also be doing a chest x-ray to make sure her lungs are clear. She'll be in intensive care for three days post-surgery, the first 24 hours with a personal attendant. Then, all going well, after ten days she'll front up for the first of five chemotherapy sessions. Apparently chemotherapy for animals is not as disruptive as it is for humans but because Billi is not a dog who handles easily, she will need to be anaesthetised for each chemo treatment.
But we're quietly trying not to worry about her - which is only slightly easier because we have so many wonderful memories and pictures of Billi - and because they have found the problem before it started affecting her health. Usually, said the specialist, dogs don't present until they are definitely not well - and that makes treatment much harder.

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