If you noticed in the title of the post, it no longer refers to CHOP. The reason for that is that we had a bit of a tough week. Indy went in for the next CHOP today and we found out that we are discontinuing the CHOP protocol because she seems to have become resistant to the protocol.
The last post mentioned that the Cytoxan wasn't working anymore (hence the enlarged lymph node), this week, we found out that the Vincristine isn't working either (lymph node had not decreased enough in size to be considered affected by the drug). Since the Vincristine is 50% of the protocol, our remaining plan is to hope that the Doxorubicin continues to work. The Doxorubicin is the "heavy hitter" and Indy usually responds to it. However, it has a high toxicity associated with it, and after today, she can only have two more doses.
So, the one lymph node that has flared up needs to shrink back down and she needs to go into remission within the next two doses, or we might have to switch over to a "salvage protocol" and accept the fact that Indy's time with us will be shortened. Not exactly what we wanted to hear, but at this point, the extra time we have had with her has been bonus time anyway considering how sick she was in December.
Again, think shrinking lymph nodes!!
The good news is that Indy remains pretty unaffected from the outside. Her appetite is normal, her energy level is normal, and she is just the same Indy that we have always loved. If there is a silver lining, that would be it!
