That's not good

It's back.

It got through and it came back.

I noticed before the latest checkup that his popliteal nodes were big. Others were, too. We're out of remission (again), it's multiple nodes, and it broke through.

Our options are
Do nothing - nope
Do rescue therapy - can't give up yet
Do COP - I guess we'll see.

Wish he was here

My friend W and I did a hike up to Oyster Dome. First, getting there was amazing. We came from Vancouver (having spent the night watching a Rangers game, then eating Mexican food. In Canada. Because you do.) so the vistas on the way there were pretty cool. Some coastal plains, some major mountains in the distance, and then an amazing drive through the Temperate Rainforest. Stunning!

But the hike was great - starting off in the damp and green of the rainforest, then climbing up over 2000 feet over the course of 3 or 4 miles. It's effectively like either walking up a really steep ramp or walking up stairs. It's challenging, I won't lie, and it is hard on the knees. But the payoff was pretty good.

Wow.

Geologist, for scale

The only thing missing

What's awesome is that you reach what seems like the top, and then the trail splits off into a bunch of little trails that lead to the vista above. You're in the trees and the woods and you've just climbed up this thing and you feel so proud of yourself... and there's like 25 other people up there, in various states of fitness. 

But the dogs - oh my, the dogs! Seems like every other hiking group had a dog. Lots of labs and young dogs. I think Leo could have made it, but he would have needed some serious couch time afterwards.

I know I did.

So far so good

Things are going well - he's responding well to treatment

The bad news is that it's so damn expensive, and every week.

The good news is that it's working.

I'm going to AGU to present my work, see him when I get back.

Panther Mountain

I recently had a birthday, and despite being far too busy for a real hiking trip with Leo, I wanted to do something special. Two of my favorite pictures are me and Leo on this ledge in the Catskills (in younger, less-lymphoma-y times) and then all of my friends and Leo on the same ledge.  In one of my favorite facebook comments every (yeah, I know), someone asks my friend "who won the king of the mountain?". The reply: "The dog won."

Another episode of "White feet, don't treat"

In politics, they say "it's the economy, stupid."
For Leo, it's more like "it's the ivermectin, dummy."

Back to Watchung

Today we went back to the Watchung preserve, ostensibly to lead a field trip. Yeah, that didn't happen.

Grumble. I went to meet help my students who needed to complete the field trip. I was there. They weren't.

So far, so good

It's been a month an 4 treatments, and Leo is now feeling good. We've had dinner with Grampy, a ton of wandering around Greenpoint and Williamsburg, and now a hike back in Fahnestock State Forest on a most beautiful fall day.