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You asked for more cases. You got it!
Today’s case is about oral malignant melanoma, a big lymph node, aspirates and quick overview on the most common oral cancer in dogs.
Looking for more info on melanoma? I have 2 vlogs ( # 115 & 116) on melanoma including skin, digit and oral malignant melanoma, so please church them out and subscribe on YouTube too. #linkinbioWhy?
When we were young it was, why is sky blue?
I remember the why’s my sons would ask when they were little. Why are dinosaurs extinct? Then, why are there more peanut allergies than when you were a kid, mommy?
At first I told them I was a veterinarian (how do you explain to a kid that you are a cancer vet?). Then as they got a little older I told them I was a cancer vet, and there were so many more questions. Why do dogs and cats get cancer? Why does that dog in your video have three legs, mom?
The why’s never stop.
You may be asking, why did MY pet get cancer? Why can’t I get the Covid-19 vaccine? Why are things so hard sometimes? Why can’t I be motivated with my to dos?
I have been asking myself a lot of these questions recently. TBH I am having a hard time getting motivated. I knew when the calendar turned to 2021, it would not magically get better, but I am not as organized and focused as I would like. Are you feeling the same way? (Maybe you are crushing 2021 l, but I am not.)
So I am circling back to my why.
Why do I do what I do? This picture reminds me of my why.
This is Woobie, who I have been treating for 4 and a half years. He was first diagnosed with a malignant thyroid carcinoma and had surgery and I treated him with chemotherapy. Last summer I diagnosed a splenic myxosarcoma and now were are dealing with liver carcinoma, too.
Why does he have 3 cancers? I may not have all the answers to the why’s, but taking care of Woobie and his family is my purpose.
These are some of my why’s:
To serve my patients and clients in the hospital I work.
To serve veterinary professionals and pet owners by providing cancer information and raising cancer awareness and early detection.
And to speak and teach. (I sure prefer live and in person over zoom and hope that will return soon.)
Reminding myself that helped me journal for the week and get organized. For now, I am getting basic, working on self-care, maybe a little grace, definitely new content, and hopefully I can crush it in 2021.
Why not?Why is treating cats with GI lymphoma trickier than other cat cancers?
The most common symptoms of gastrointestinal lymphoma in cats are:
🤮Vomiting
💩Diarrhea
⚖️Weight loss
🤢And changes in appetite
They can have 1 of these or more these clinical signs.
And even though cats tolerate chemo well (better than dogs and people), do you know what the GI side effects of chemo are?
Vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and changes in appetite.
In this video, I give you some quick tips for how I manage cats with GI lymphoma that are getting chemo so we can minimize side effects, so kitties can feel better more quickly.
My goal with all my cancer patients is that they not just live longer, but they feel well during chemo treatment. And then after too.
This video was part of my stories on IG this week so if you like it, be sure to follow me and watch my stories for more tips like this as we follow Tiger each week as he goes through the CHOP multi-drug protocol.
Looking for more info on cat lymphoma (causes, protocols, tests, prognosis)? Please check out my 4 part series on cat lymphoma on Youtube (vlog 97-100). #linkinbioI don’t know how to tell you this.
To be honest, I didn’t know if I had to. But I don’t compartmentalize well, and it’s impossible for me to completely separate my professional from personal life.
Although this might’ve been the toughest and saddest holiday season ever, this picture was my moment of joy. My boys.
I woke up alone in my new temporary apartment on Christmas morning. That was really tough.
For those of you to follow me in my stories, you saw that I moved right before Christmas. Some of you asked where the family was moving. Well, the entire family didn’t move.
We’re getting divorced. There I said it. It still hurts. Like crazy. After 17 years of marriage. We dated for 5 years before that.
No, I don’t wanna go through the details. (Please do not ask.) I haven’t even told my friends or my family the details. It’s private, painful. It still hurts, it’s still raw.
A friend who went through a divorce told me it’s like a death. You are mourning the life you thought you would have with your ex, with your family as a unit. And I’m definitely still going through that process and trying to wrap may head around my new life. And how I have changed my boys’ lives.
Doing what I do here on social media is a big part of who I am. It provides me purpose and a joy from knowing I am helping others. You all inspire me to focus on something good during this very sad, tough year. And my I cannot separate work from personal life as much as I have tried.
So like many of you, I am looking forward to better days ahead in 2021. 2020 has been a horrible year for so many of us. I am sorry for your struggles, losses, and challenges too.
Your love and support this year has TRULY meant the world to me. Thank you, and Happy New Year!