Thought I'd just let some of you know how Wilf is getting on. For those of you who don't know Wilf was diagnosed with an extremely rare cancer when he was 5 months old—malignant histiocytoma (so rare Cambridge University Vet School have never seen a case and there are very few reports of it, mostly anecdotal). The only therapy they offered was palliative and they removed part of his ear and the offending enlarged lymph on his shoulder. In December we went back for a checkup in Cambridge and a workup with ultrasound and X-rays, in January more vet school pathologists had a look at the histology from the bits they removed, and this Tuesday he went for a check with my vet who pronounced him healthy. While there is still a little bit of finger crossing to do as we don't know whether it will or won't come back (and my vet obviously didn't want to tempt too much fate) he's doing really well. He's now 10 months old and like any other cheeky cocker of this age and a wonderful character.
See for yourself:
Ruby trying to teach him to fly but his ears haven't quite grown as magnificently as his big sisters
...and basically just having fun