The Sparky Report 20 February 2002

It’s been a few months since the last Sparky Report when she had started taking Lomustine every three weeks. That has been the protocol till today. They had started to shrink for a while, but Sparky’s tumors have started growing again, which means that the Lomustine has done all the good it is going to do. Since Lomustine was a last grasp at something that might be effective, we are at a place where we stop, wait and see what happens.

In late January Sparky had a new ultrasound done as well as new chest x-rays. The ultrasound indicated some very slight splenic changes, but no conclusive evidence of increase or decrease in size of the three main tumors. The x-rays showed only slight increase in the number of metastases in her lungs and only about a 30% increase in the size of the existing metastases.

In the meanwhile, Sparky has been having blood tests weekly to keep an eye on her white count and gauge when to put her on and take her off antibiotics. She had been on Lactulose for a while, but we’ve had her off that for some time. She had been getting Metoclopramide the day before and the day of her chemo to mitigate cramping and nausea.

Three weeks ago she showed evidence of some upper gastro-intestinal bleeding, so we started her on Pepcid A/C and Sucralfate. The upper GI bleeding seems to have cleared up, so we weaned her off the Sucralfate. She continues with the lower GI bleeding. This will likely continue, her rectal region having been assaulted by surgery, fistulae, radiation, constriction, and chemotherapy.

Sparky’s appetite has waxed and waned for the last few months coinciding with the dosing schedule of the Lomustine. She’s currently eating one to two cans of “road kill” (Hill’s Prescription Diet n/d) plus a few tablespoons of tuna daily. Her weight has stabilized between 52 and 54 pounds and she appears healthy.

Sparky is still happy, perky, and berserk. Even when her appetite was off she was still interested in playing quite vigorously. She still loves chasing tennis balls, tugging her rope, playing “tag” with her mom, chasing squirrels, and doing tricks. And Locutus continues to “speak up.”

In the meanwhile, Sparky’s mom and grandma took a Photoshop class and have been putting new pictures on her website. http://sparkyfenton.home.mindspring.com/ Don’t forget to follow the link to Sparky’s mom’s Sparky Page to see more pictures.

Stephanie Fenton A.K.A. Sparky’s Mom