So, today marked the day for 5 business days after his surgery which meant that the path results should have been completed. I waited anxiously all morning, dreading the call, and by late afternoon I was sort of releaved that I wouldn't have to go on that rollar coaster of emotions until tomorrow.
However, around 5:30pm, Bentley's vet called. She started off the conversion saying that she had really good news, so I automatically think that the margins are clean and that it's a low grade tumor but she went on to explain, that to her surprise it's NOT cancer at all. In fact, it was some rare inflammatory response that happens when the body is exposed to a foreign object such as thorn or it can happen in response to an injection (your phobia of needles may not be so unjustified after all, Dave). They didn't find any splinter or anything within the sample and they don't ever inject in that area of the body, so it's a mystery for now as to why it happened to Bentley. Apparently, he actually had several of these within the tissue sample that she sent away. And as for the swelling reaction after the needle aspiration, she said that since it's an inflammatory response it could have released histamine as well. I'm not sure of the exact terminology for this diagnosis because once she told me that it wasn't cancer, I was just so excited that some of the conversation is a blur. She was just as astonished as we were that he escaped cancer as a diagnosis. Although she "reserved judgment" the entire way, she admitted that is what she was expecting throughout, as were we.
It really couldn't have resulted in a better prognosis! It's quite amazing. Bentley, Eric, and I really can't thank everyone enough for all the thoughts, prayers, and the positive doggie vibes that you've sent our way. We're looking forward to another 7 years with the Benster. What a trooper. God, I love that dog.
