ROBIN

Well, they have ascertained that my dog's mast cell tumor was a grade II with clear margins everywhere but on the underside. There the margin was too tiny, only 2cm's, to really count. They did an ultrasound and x-rays yesterday and there are no lesions, nodules or swellings internally or in the lymph system so they are going with an 18-day regimen of radiation with limited chemo. They say he will have a reaction like a bad sunburn on the area (unfortunately right over his neutering scar) which will make it painful for him to sit and that we will have to keep an e-collar on him to keep him from licking the spot. They expect no side effects from the chemo. Surely it would be OK to use a little aloe on the spot at night, wouldn't it? The good news is that the veterinary oncologist puts his chances of a cure at over 80%..he said the grade II was borderline between I and II so I am taking him at his word and going ahead with the treatment. I also wait until hubby takes him out before I cry. For all the positive things that were said, I am still really scared.

My 7-year-old rat terrier mix had a lump removed from over his neutering scar that turned out to be a malignant mast cell tumor. We are seeing a veterinary oncologist on the 19th. He is acting just fine, his incision is healed and he has energy, appetite and sleeps well. Am I just a nervous mommy?