Thank you so much to all that have answered. You've all been wonderful!

An update:
We're actually doing very well here, by now.

I chose to go with Prednisone, zantac/pepcid/tagamet, and benadryl.
For now, the main thing we have to watch is his liver. No signs in x-rays
nor palpation from vet have shown up any tumors tere, but his liver enzymes
are high! So we've got him on Zentonil 400 mg, which is SAM-e. (I had once
thought of trying this for arthritis, in myself, but many said it wasn't
very efficacious.) But for liver problems it's doing wonders for some. So
that and antibiotics.

His CBC came back all normal, except for the liver enzymes.
His buffy smear came back normal.
His x-rays showed nothing.
And there is NO lymph node involvement!

So, we've finally determined he's Grade 1, Stage 1.

Very good outcome. They say if it comes back, and it most likely will, that
it will be in same place as before. (I am checking him daily for anything!)

I told the vet I'd found a cite on a a website that said trials with no
other involvement other than at the spot, showed that with surgery and
radiation that 86% of dogs live another five years. So I told him I had
decided that every time it comes back we'll do those, so we get another 5
yrs, and another 5 yrs and another....... wry grin
My vet looked at me really funny, when I said this, as he thought I was
serious! lol
I figured if every five years he gets surgery and rad. he'll live forever.
G

Anyway, thanks again to all, we're on the path, and we'll just have to wait
and see what happens. My vet has agreed with whatever I decide, if the Pred
is making him too uncomfortable with the piddling, (as it has before), we'll
drop it. But keep the benadryl and tummy meds. AND the liver meds as long as
no problems arise.

He will come to the house, if/when it is 'time' so that Rudy won't have any
anxiety, and he'll take him with him to be cremated. It's funny, there are
days when I can talk about it openly and intelligently, but then there are
those times when just an inkling of a thought goes flashing by....and I'm in
tears on the floor next to him.

Did you know there is a place in California, (of course), that you can send
the 'cremations' of anyone, person/animal/etc. to and they will take about
6-8 months or so, to make a *diamond* out of the ashes, to be put into a
ring or any kind of setting.......???? sheeesh Yeah, for $3,000.00 and up
an up and up......G

Weird, eh? I don't want that for Rudy nor me, but I do want our ashes to be
scattered together, in our special place.

But all in all, we've got the very best outlook here and he's doing great so
far, only 4 days into treatment, but what will happen will happen...... I
decided to just give it to God, and hope for the acceptance of whatever is
to come.

I will love him as best I can, as always, which really gives me a lot of
contentment, knowing that I have loved him and treated him so very well
*all* of his years with me, since he was 8 weeks old.

Thanks again,
MaryBeth & Rudy