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10-17-2008, 11:44 AM | #16 |
Donating YT 7000 Club Member | ^I'm in Central NJ too. I think if I were in your situation, I would probably just make the most of the time I had left with her without surgery, etc. But it's a lot easier to say than to do, I'm sure. Best of luck to you.
__________________ Megan "I have my dreams, I have made plans." - The Pirate Queen All Gave Some; Some Gave All |
Welcome Guest! | |
10-17-2008, 11:52 AM | #17 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Northern NJ
Posts: 3,468
| She is located in Fairfield, NJ. I cannot say enough nice things about her. AERA Specialty Services Oncology |
10-17-2008, 12:29 PM | #18 |
Owned by Rory & Lane Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 1,893
| My bullmastiff was diagnosed with lymphoma, at the age of 6, but I know the survival rates greatly differ between lymphoma and bone cancer. We treated him with chemo (6 month treatment) and he was in remission for approximately 8 months following that 6 months of treatment. When he came out of remission, we started up the chemo treatment again. He died just before his last round of chemo (adriamycin in his case), and just short of his 8th birthday. All that being said. I would 100% do it all again. Chemotherapy in MOST dogs is not the same things that most humans experience. I honestly think the prednisone they loaded him up on affected him much more than the chemo. There is no hair loss, except in a few breeds. It certainly does not affect dogs the same way as humans. During his first 6 months of chemo, the ONLY thing we noticed was after the hardest hitting drug (the adriamycin) was that he would sleep a lot the next day. Other than that nothing was different - we still went for walks, still went on vacations with him, etc. The second round of chemo was much harder - likely due to the fact he was a year older (7 is considered old for these big dogs) and all the drugs had been in his system before. During the second round, we also needed the anti-nausea drugs for him, when the first time he didn't lose his appetitie at all. Towards the end, his heart was the problem - we don't know if it was due to old age or the adriamycin (which can be known to weaken the heart), but the bottom line is I got almost two more years with my sweet Hutchy, and 95% of the time he was living a great quality of life. I should also mention his lymphoma presented in his eyes, and he did lose vision in one of his eyes - but it truly did not seem to slow him down much at all. I have heard dogs can adapt to three legs very well. I know it's a difficult decision, but I just wanted to throw in my experience. I know you will decide what is best for your sweet girl, Belle. These big dogs just get hit up so hard so young. Here is a tribute video I made after he passed away: ETA: The vet also told us that Hutch would only have 3 months without treatment.
__________________ Rory and Lane now have a dog blog, Doggie Debutantes. Find us on Facebook here. Last edited by TresCutePiggies; 10-17-2008 at 12:32 PM. |
10-17-2008, 12:38 PM | #19 | |
Phantom Queen Morrigan Donating Member | Quote:
__________________ Kellie and Morgan | |
10-17-2008, 01:09 PM | #20 | |
Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New Jersey
Posts: 518
| Quote:
__________________ Luv my DaisyWaisy! | |
10-17-2008, 01:10 PM | #21 | |
Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New Jersey
Posts: 518
| Quote:
__________________ Luv my DaisyWaisy! | |
10-17-2008, 01:15 PM | #22 |
Phantom Queen Morrigan Donating Member | If this were my dog i'd definately proceed with the amputation and chemo. i warn you tho, the chemo is expensive. I don't think the prognosis is as grim as you've read. they recover quickly if they are in good health otherwise. Plus since she's so big i'd make sure her other limbs are strong enough to supoort her. If she has bad hips or knees i'd be more reluctant to do the surgery. I'd rather have a few weeks of recovery and then as many months as possible to spend with my dog.
__________________ Kellie and Morgan |
10-17-2008, 03:59 PM | #23 |
Owned by Rory & Lane Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 1,893
| Thank you for your kind words. A lot of that video (at least half) was taken while he was going through chemo - so you can see his quality of life was pretty good.
__________________ Rory and Lane now have a dog blog, Doggie Debutantes. Find us on Facebook here. |
10-18-2008, 04:18 AM | #24 |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oliver Springs, TN
Posts: 683
| I'm so sorry you are facing such hard decisions. If Belle were my dog, I would not put her through anything, just give her pain relief and keep her comfortable and love her every minute in the time she has left. I think she is an older dog for her breed at 7 and I would not prolong her life at the cost of her quality of life. I had to make that decision when my little ferret had cancer. I didn't love her any less because she was a tiny little furry girl and I let her go as soon as it was apparent that she wasn't going to get well. It broke my heart, but I know I did what was best for her and her well being. God bless. |
10-18-2008, 09:34 AM | #25 | |
Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New Jersey
Posts: 518
| Quote:
We are taking this all into consideration in making our decision. We are awaiting the consult now to see what the surgeon thinks on her specifically. We definitely do not want to make this decision based on our feelings of wanting to keep her here. We want it based on what is best for her & her quality of life. Thank you all for the support.
__________________ Luv my DaisyWaisy! Last edited by ranedrops; 10-18-2008 at 09:37 AM. | |
10-18-2008, 03:12 PM | #26 | |
Phantom Queen Morrigan Donating Member | Quote:
__________________ Kellie and Morgan | |
10-20-2008, 04:01 PM | #27 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: ~*~YorkieWorld~*~
Posts: 8,428
| So sorry to hear this |
11-29-2008, 10:04 AM | #28 |
Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New Jersey
Posts: 518
| Though I would share an update on Belle - Belle was scheduled for the amputation. First though xrays were taken that morning of her hind legs and back to make sure she was a candidate. Unfortunately, Belle was not a candidate. The xrays showed she has significant arthritis in both of her hips and spondylosis, the fusion of vertabrae, in her back from arthritis. We were advised not to proceed as they surgeon was afraid if they removed her leg she would not walk again. The only good news was the cancer had still not shown in her lungs. They believe she may make it until past Christmas. Belle is on pain meds and we are trying to make her as comfortable as possible. Her pain has increased on the leg. She limps more now and cries sometimes. She tries harder to keep the weight off of it. Her appetite is still good though and we think she is still happy & not ready to leave us yet. We really have no options left. We are just trying to make the little time she has left as comfortable and happy as possible for her. Thank you all for your support.
__________________ Luv my DaisyWaisy! |
11-29-2008, 02:46 PM | #29 |
All Dogs Go To Heaven Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: By The Lake
Posts: 2,727
| Thanks for the update, I was wondering how she was doing. Prayers for Belle and for you and your family. My avitar is my sister and myself with our Saint in the early 60's. We were talking about him last night and we both share love and good thoughts of our Barney.
__________________ Jeanie I am @ the Lake Jackson, Maggie, Sunshine, Bailey, Rocky, Emmie & Jack |
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