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Ok, so it turns out that there must have been a pocket inside her cheek from the original tumor removal. Food got in there and rotted. The first time it happened (the first return of lump after surgery that disappeared on its own) the body must have been able to deal with it. But it kept happening and the giant lump appeared (what we thought was tumor return). It got so bad that it exploded outside. All the clumps that came out were likely old rotted food, hence the awful smell. But we only figured it out when part of a green bean from last night popped out the outside hole! So she is on antibiotics and I'm to keep using warm compress to drain the abscess. Only give her pureed food. We go back in Thursday morning and they will go in and clean it out and try to figure out a way to close it up better from the inside. So rotted food better than tumor! Also, he thinks the smaller harder lump under her jaw bone is scar tissue. He might try to get a sample when she is under on Thursday. But at this point it is not our main concern since we know she has melanoma and it will spread. The main objective is just to give her the most comfort with the current situation. She is bright and happy and bouncy and smiling today!

So I think this may be the last I write on this because I feel I'm taking you all on this crazy roller coaster ride! Last night Tyra's face exploded! So much junk came out of that "tumor". So, it seems it is a big infection. On our way to the vet right now. Today will not be THE day. Talk about an eleventh hour stay!!! I cannot express how grateful I am for all the concern, good thoughts, and prayers. Thank you

The tumor has returned with a vengeance. It was an uncomfortable weekend despite meds. She still wants to eat non stop. But that can no longer be the deciding factor. Tomorrow a vet with Lap of Love will come to the house and help her over the Bridge. Tonight will be pork chops and breadsticks and ham and cheese and yogurt and and and........! It should be a nice day tomorrow so we should be able to lie in the grass and say goodbye.

So far so good! Continuing to send good mojo

Prayers, good thoughts, good mojo all coming your way!

You'd have to meet Tyra to understand. For her it REALLY is all about the food. She only likes to be touched on her terms, and its not very often. Mostly at 4 am :-) So if she asks I comply what ever time it is. Her favorite people are people with FOOD. She has been giving me kisses, something she NEVER would do. So she is spoiling me too.

Back on the roller coaster! It seems what we were seeing was most likely a suture reaction or just drainage from surgery. The site is back to looking normal. There is still a pea size hard spot under her chin along the jaw. But that could also be suture reaction. Wow! I knew this would be hard. I just had no idea what a wild ride it would be. And so the spoiling continues.....just dialed back a bit. She has gained 3 lbs in 2 weeks!!

Well, two weeks post surgery and the tumor is already back. It is about the size of a marble in the original spot and also a new spot just under her chin.

No worries on the suggestion. Chemo has not been shown to be effective for melanoma anyway. I got the Tagamet this morning and started that routine. Thank heavens I have a pill cutter! They are not easy to halve. Ok, back to spoiling now!

Good news from the oncologist. Tyra was classified stage II. She is not a good candidate for radiation because of the repeated anesthesia and the location. She is a candidate for the Melanoma vaccine. However, it is controversial. But mostly it is crazy expensive. And at her age she was not certain it would give more than her normal life expectancy. There is some anecdotal evidence in horses that Tagamet shrinks melanoma. While there is no current study to see if it does the same for dogs it certainly won't hurt her. So she will be getting it twice a day. Now the really surprising news! While clearly no one can predict the future she thought even without further treatment Tyra has another six to 12 months! AND while certainly the tumor could grow back it is not a definite! Yes eventually it will spread to lymph nodes and lungs. So overall I feel buoyed that we have way more time than I thought (theoretically) and that I am comfortable I am making the right decision not pursuing further treatment. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!!

I forgot to add that I am on vacation this week. I am so thankful to go through the initial shock of all this (although at 15 and half I guess it is not technically a shock) with lots of time at home with her. Tyra has always been an odd bird. She is not put together right physically and mentally. While not outright aggressive she has never been a loving dog. She does not endear those that meet her. She mostly does not even care to be touched. And her body has always held her back. She has acted like an old dog since she was three. She has been on and off incontinent since then (she was spayed at 9 weeks due to shelter policy). She has had plenty of health problems. She has been on thyroid meds for years. About three years ago she was diagnosed with a pronounced heart murmur. At the time I was not even going to pursue treatment for that. But a good friend set me straight. Then she got a tumor in her eye. She suffered for months with horrible pain. And I didn't even know that was what was causing her odd behavior. Even after my regular vet diagnosed the tumor I was slow to get her to the eye doctor. I was forever treating her like an old decrepit dog that was about to die at any moment. But after she had her eye removed she had a new lease on life. She was no longer incontinent, even without PPA! Things were good for quite a while. Then she started not wanting to eat. We tried all kinds of things. I didn't think she could go under anesthesia due to age and heart condition. But my vet dentist was not concerned at all. Last October she had her mouth all cleaned up and WOW was she a NEW dog!!! She went back to eating like the chow hound she was. I had her on coconut oil and fish oil and she started moving like a much younger dog! She was so happy. I FINALLY reached a point where I thought, "Ok! This dog is going to live forever!" The past four months have been the best she has had in years. And just when I finally stopped treating her like she is dying she goes and gets aggressive cancer! LOL!

We have an appointment in a few hours with the oncologist. But frankly I'm almost regretting even setting it up. They require her to be fasted for the appointment in case they want to do any procedures. Her absolute number one reason to live is to eat. Eating defines her quality of life! And so technically by even going to the appointment I am compromising her quality of life. I know, it seems silly. Its just one meal. BUT....... She clearly is not feeling great. But she still wants to EAT!!!! Any further treatment that will affect her ability/will to eat is just not worth pursuing. I'm lining up a doctor for in home euthanasia so when the time comes we are all set for that. I absolutely will not have her last moments be some place she hates. And I plan to scatter her cremains in my flower gardens when the time comes. After a lifetime of getting scolded for being in my flower beds she can have the last laugh! I will post about our vet visit though.

I am so glad your experience diverged from mine!!

How did today go?

Thank you Diane. Yeah she puked her breakfast today. First day back on regular dog food. Back to the home made concoctions.

I did make an appointment with the veterinary oncologist. The consult fee was not outrageous. And if nothing else I can get more details on what to expect the next few months.

The report came back this morning. It is malignant melanoma, just as I had thought. Highly aggressive. Surgery did not get good margins, as we knew because of its location. They gave me a referral to a cancer center. I will call them. But at this point I'm not drawn to heroic measures.

You are having a repeat of my week last week! Eerie! Tyra's surgery went fine and she is back to normal. So here is hoping that is a repeat for you too! Sending you lots of good mojo!

I know EXACTLY what you are going through! Lots of good mojo and hugs and prayers. So glad you are going to a vet dentist.

Tyra is doing well. My number one criteria to rate her quality of life is "is she begging for more food?" She lives to eat. And despite significant swelling on the left side of her face all she wants to do is eat! So life is good.

Ok, I gave her the Tramadol. I can always just take her home if it causes her to become disruptive.

It was a rough night. She was up pacing several times. Then I took her out and several times she strained some soft watery stool. I'm assuming this is probably from stress or the anesthesia. She was quite mopey this morning. I struggled to get some food in her to get her pain meds in her. But in the end was able to get enough food in her to give her all her meds. Her left side is very swollen but I was told very clearly this would happen and is normal. The Previcox should help. They told me to ice it if she would tolerate it. Ha! Yeah right. She's chilling here at work with me. I want to give her some Tramadol but I've never given it to her before and I'm not sure how loopy it will make her. So we'll save that until we get home. Thank you again everyone

Yes! Old dogs are the best! I cherish every minute with both my two old ones.

We are back from surgery! He had to cut into her cheek to get to the mass. It started in the very back upper left. A very bad spot. He got the best margins that he could given the location. He agreed it was worrisome. The ugly thing is off to Colorado State for review. It will be a week before we know what it is. But I know it can't be good because as he was wrapping up his review he took my hand tenderly and said how sorry he was. He has an oncologist he refers to. But this will likely be the end of the road for us. She is 15 years and 4 months. I really can't see putting her through any more procedures. But who knows. More answers next week. For now she is gorked out on pain meds, sleeping and snoring away. I will take her to work with me tomorrow to keep a close eye on her. Thank you all again for your prayers and well wishes.

Keep that good mojo coming! The xrays looked good. The mass will be removed this afternoon. Then have to wait for the pathology report to come back.