I forgot I had posted this!
We had a really good appointment at the vet hospital. Staging was anticipated to cost around £1000-£1500 so we decided to not do the full staging process - mainly because the treatment plan is the same regardless, but also because our limit for the treatment was 4K per condition per year, which has to last until June 2019, and the chemotherapy protocol is estimated to cost £3500-£4000. Therefore, the vet did basic testing and staged him as 3a. We knew he would be at least 3a so it was the best news we could get.
We did a chemotherapy protocol called CHOP. We amended one drug, basically because it can cause cardiac risks and therefore he would need heart scans which are pricey. The vet believes substituting the drug will not make any difference to his life expectancy.
We didnt do the testing to see if it was b or T cell either. Again, treatment is the same for either but prognosis is different.
He has had two rounds of chemotherapy so far and was in remission after the first, which is fantastic. The vet thinks its B cell based on his fast response, which doubles his life expectancy!
He gets round 3 tomorrow. Symptoms wise, hes a bit sleepy and not his usual self but not in pain and still jumps up and barks like mad when the door goes, so I dont think he is in any pain or feels sick or anything. He is still eating and drinking and his poop is normal, and he has only been sick a few times (which is normal for him)
OMG the pee though! He is on diuretics and steroids (the chemo can damage his bladder) and he is drinking literally about 8 times his normal amount and peeing non stop. He gets out every hour and does a pee as soon as the door opens, sometimes he is peeing for literally 3-5 minutes 😳 he has also peed the carpet quite a few times, which is really unlike him. He has done it before a few times, always when on steroids, so Im not worried about it being a symptom of the lymphoma or a sign he is in pain or anything.
We are trying to do nice things with him when he is well. We had him in a lovely beer garden and at the beach after his first chemo. His second has made him more sleepy and we have been busy with other things, plus the weather was rubbish, so we havent done anything this week, but we might do a nice day at the beach or in a park next weekend. Taking lots of pictures!
We are getting a painting done soon. Not sure whether to get just the dog, or include dd in the picture too.
His continued treatment after he has had all drugs once will be at our own vet. The hospital is over 20 miles away and goes through the city so its a long drive (at least an hour) plus we need to leave him and come back. Its a lot cheaper at our own vet and I trust them to do it. Our own vet is good friends with the oncologist so thats good! The treatment is weekly for 9 weeks then fortnightly for another 16.
I hope the prognoses is a better one and your doggy gets many more happy years with you 
