Taylor's Journey Begins

The Bump
The first trip was easy, I had called the vet because I had found a small bump on Taylor's left hip a few weeks earlier. It was summertime and Taylor can be clumsy so I wanted to make sure it wasn't just a bruise. We scheduled an appointment to check it out "just to be sure." We had a fine needle aspiration and went on our way.

What Next?
The next Monday we got the call, Dr. Burns explained we didn't know for sure... but something wasn't right and it may be a soft tissue sarcoma. After talking for a while and trying to understand what we might be facing, I scheduled his biopsy. It all happened quickly, we scheduled surgery and the next thing I knew the big day was here.

"Do I have to wear the cone?"

Biopsy Surgery
The morning of surgery was one of the hardest mornings we have ever had with Taylor. The goal was to remove as much of the tumor as possible along with surrounding healthy tissue to get clear margins. I was so happy when we got the call that surgery was done. Just a little bit longer and we could bring him home to recover. Dr. Burns said surgery went well, he couldn't be happier.

What can I say... Taylor is much stronger than any of us ever gave him credit for. He came home with a three and a half inch incision on his back right hip. He was tired and medicated but wanted so badly to stay awake with the family.

The next couple days were rough... although hungry, Taylor got colitis, but thanks to Dr. Foster was back on his feet and eating normally quickly. I worked from home (thanks Jeff!) for a week to maintain his schedule of ice, food and trips outside. Thanks to my mom we even got a break to take my dad to the rodeo for his father's day gift.

As Taylor started to recover he often looked as his scar, I often call the tattoo or battle wound, as if to say... "I went to sleep, woke up, what did I do to get this?"

Surgery Results
We finally got the call, I had been on pins and needles all week just waiting for the surgery results. The big question... did we have clear margins? The answer from Dr. Burns would be no. The biopsy resulted in great horizontal margins but the tumor had some of those tiny roots that went further into the muscle. Unfortunately, because this tumor is just above Taylor's sciatic nerve, additional surgery may be a challenge.

But we had goals in the surgery:

1. diagnosis: soft tissue sarcoma - more specifically a peripheral nerve sheath tumor
2. cure if we can: the tumor was focally deep with good side margins - more treatment will be needed
3. prognosis and grade: grade 1 (least malignant) - in most cases good prognosis with treatment

Finally, we started to have answers, a type A and flaming gold personality like me needs to be organized and know what we are dealing with. Now that we know what we are dealing with we can create a plan. A plan! I love plans! Now we just need to know our next steps. Dr. Burns is going to talk to the Colorado State University Cancer Center... Taylor will need a consultation from one of their oncologists and surgeons.

More appointments, but this is just the beginning of our new journey. Right now I am trying to remember on of the lessons I have learned from Andre.  Lemons and lemonade... I think I need a lemonade smoothie right now.

The good in it all?
Taylor is happy and running around like his old self. Nobody has told him he is sick and I think it's best if we keep it that way. Let's keep playing and cuddling and enjoy every day.