Very sad news - Pepper

[BrookeR]

It is with great sadness that I write on here now, but I wanted to give an update while I still can.
I have been absolutely heartbroken today to find out the news that my beautiful girl Pepper has a very rare and fast acting terminal cancer. Apologies for not being to write the name of it down at this point but my head has been a mess today.
She has a very swollen back toe where the cancer is and it is also in her lymph glands. We do not know the extent of exactly where else it is. But I am choosing not to run and further testing and instead just making her comfortable and spending every minute I can trying to give her as much love and happiness that I can in the little time they have advised me that we have left.
Pepper is my best mate and has been for the last 10.5years. I could never have asked for a more beautiful, placid, loving, loyal dog. We have been through so much together and barely spent a day apart only the little time when I was in hospital having my children. She follows me everywhere even at times when she has been in pain, she couldn't miss watching me go to the toilet or laying on the bathroom floor while I'm in the shower. Not to mention having to sit on my lap when we travel away to my parents farm 2+hrs away when there is a perfectly good seat free in the Back. It's just too far away from me.
I have been lucky enough to work from home with pep ever since she was a pup. For the first 4 years it was only me and her. She has helped me build up our business until such point that my partner could also join us working from home. She was by my side every day keeping me sane through the early days of working on my own.
I am so so grateful for all the advice that I have received from on this forum from you jo especially and all the other great members. I believe you have given me the gift of having her with us for an extra few years.
Pepper was diagnosed impa the days before Christmas 2014. Each year we have had problems with relapses at Christmas time and I have been so worried about what was in store for this Christmas considering pepper's past traditions at Christmas. I did not expect this though. But have learnt over the years that Pepper always does the unexpected when it comes to anything health/medical related.
For anyone who knows myself and peppers story you will know how hard I have fought for her. She has basically been the dog that needed a bubble with all her allergies etc. After all the time at vets, specialists & researching everything that I could, giving her special diet and supplements. Finally we have had this last year living comfortably all but itch free with no colitis or gastro problems.

I have dreaded this day and to say I'm am devastated is an understatement.
Pepper is my first baby, and my best friend who has been by my side through everything. I could never have imagined having so much love for one little staffy. There will never be another dog as placid, loving, kind nature and tolerant as pepper. She truly is one of a kind in all ways. She is so gentle and loving with kids and also other dogs. She will roll over and surrender to a chihuahua. Through all her problems she has always been the best patient you could ever ask for. I cannot even begin to imagine life without her. All I can keep telling myself is the only thing to do is try make every minute we have count and show her as much love and enjoyment that we can while we can. 😥😥😥

[Jo CIMDA]

Oh Brooke, I am so saddened to read this about your Pepper.  We all know how close you are to her, and how she has been your soul-mate from the day she arrived in your home and in your heart.

I know you will make the most of this time you have together - enjoy every moment and take comfort that she doesn't share or know your anguish and she will remain the same girl until that day comes.

I do hope you have many more days ahead together - you never know it could be a lot longer than you think.

Jo

[BrookeR]

Thanks jo.
Pepper has Plasmacytoma that has metastasized (vs localised plasmacytoma).
I don't know too much about it other than it being bad and a rare fast progressing form of cancer. The specialists here in Sydney have only known of one other case of it this year.
What else could we expect from Pep, she is one in a million and likes to do things different from the mainstream.
We had some really hot days and Peps toe was very swollen and she was having some trouble getting about by the evening time. But today was cooler and she has just been her normal self running around, barking and following me everywhere.
We had a photographer come to the house this morning and take a lot of pics of us all together. I am also taking her to get a plaster sculpture of her foot done next week, as I had one done of both kids hands and feet and always wanted to do hers too.

I've spent two days crying and Pep has been sad and not herself. But I've pulled myself together (for now) and she is great today. She knows when something is wrong so I need to try and hide it from her so she stays happy.

There is nothing else to do but take each day as it comes, try and be strong and happy for Pep. She is getting to have more special food treats and going for lots of drives and family outings.

I guess the only good thing about this rare cancer is they don't know so much about it and therefore no one can really give us any definitive answers on time frames etc. Which in a way is better I feel. 

Another positive I'm holding onto is Pep never sticks to the normal or follows rules so im not going to dwell on any approximate figures they have given me. I'll let Pep be Pep and do her best to be different.

[BrookeR]

Pepper has done it again. My hope for expecting the unexpected from her has came true.
Her toe went down, which it shouldn't have if she had plasmacytoma. I took her back to be tested again and the results were considerably different this time. She has permenantly been on 5mg pred once a day (weight 17.8kg) for her IMPA. Thats the dose we have t been able to get below and so have accepted. When we got the plasmacytoma diagnosis we went up to 2.5mg a day (total 7.5mg once daily). After doing the second test and receiving the considerably different results we decided to do 2 more weeks at 7.5mg and then drop back to 5mg once daily. Then after a week at the lower dose retest everything again.
We have just rested her again and by complete Pepper standards of never conforming to the normal......no cancer 😁 Only Pepper could do this!
The initial tests of her lymph showed 90%+ plasma cells. Apparently a result of 30% is cancer.
Peppers two new tests showed 10%, a level that they believe is just normal for inflammation caused by skin disease. There was nothing else to suggest cancer. Multiple pathologists have looked at her results and have no explaination. 
To say I am over the moon is an understatement 😊

[Jo CIMDA]

Well dare I say that only Pepper could do this to you.  We have always known she is an amazing girl and now the science has proved it.

I am so pleased for you.
Jo

[BrookeR]

Thanks Jo. I'm so thrilled.

[litex]

I'm very sorry about the pepper. I also had a similar targedy this year, I know how you feel. it takes time and it will be better.