maintaining the quality of life...

[acroyear]

...is, sadly, the only option I have.  They can't do the surgery as its crossed the mid-line of the jaw and the whole jaw would have to be removed.  This would 1) create a very low quality of life as she would have to be fed by tube for the rest of her life, and 2) is unlikely to extend that life past the current 6 month diagnosis in the first place.  Nothing is likely to.  The options of Radio and Chemo are still there to keep the tumor from getting any worse and keeping the pain down, but it won't really stop the eventual spread to the lungs.  In one sense I'm relieved in that if they had done the surgery, feeding would become a chore during the recovery and I'd have had to house her at the vet over the weekends for them to do it since I'm not home for the next 9...

I'm going to go with the chemo, as its the one least likely to have side effects in the expected dosages.  I'll schedule the first session for ibuprofen tuesday as I usually ask to take that day off in the first place.

But for now, as long as she's eating and drinking and sleeping and acting happy, I'm as content as I'll be.

*sigh*