This year stretched itself into something larger than time—every month a hurdle, every week a reminder of what love really means. And at the heart of it all was Nelson, his is your noble (hmm more clumsy and lovable) black Labrador, somehow managing to look dignified even while being shaved in new and increasingly abstract patterns and his now white nose.
We first came to SASH North Ryde in February 2025 to visit the oncology team as Nelson has just received a mast cell tumour cancer diagnosis. We found the tumour a little bit by chance when testing something else and decided to also test his nose due to recurring allergies and we were luck we found it when we did.
SASH was our local vet’s recommendation as the best place to treat Nelson type of cancer. So the trips from Canberra to North Ryde started. In the first 5 weeks we made the 4 hour trip (usually with an overnight sleepover in Sydney) for radiation therapy every Thursday as well as starting chemotherapy at home. It was a hard adjustment for Nelson and for us but the amazing SASH team were there for every concerned phone call and question. 3 months after we started treatment, and our first cancer restaging – we had the best phone call – a voicemail late on a Friday night – the cancer had disappeared from Nelson spleen and lymph nodes – he was in medical remission!
We have still had some battles since then, refusing to eat anything that wasn’t a chicken treat (against all labrador instinctions) and stopping the steroid and chemo due to a live infection and treating his low iron levels, all while we were away on our honeymoon – luckily Nelson has amazing grand-pawrents to help take care of him but the good news is he is on the repair with iron levels up, his liver functioning well and back on chemo to help keep him healthy and happy for as long as possible. Now he also has the cutest sign of his successful radiation treatment looking like he dipped his nose in a bucket of icing sugar!
We still make the journey to SASH in North Ryde every month to make sure things are on track. The SASH team have been incredible making sure Nelson was getting the best quality care (and cuddles!) any dog and family could ask for!
– North Ryde NSW
