Cody & Duchess Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 In January one dog diagnosed with soft tissue cancer in back thigh/ hips...tumor came up in hours. Possible treatment, take the leg and hip, not possible for this dog due to front elbow dysplasia. Tuesday, brought Cody, the BC in my pic, to doctor for cough he has had since Friday. I thought allergy, I was giving him Benadryl. X-ray showed larger than golf ball size tumor in his lung. The cough is bc it is pressing on his windpipe. What questions should I be asking? Has anyone had this? I am not willing to do surgery to get him months because the surgery is really hard on the dog. But years will make me think. How do I know this is the only cancer? Please, any insight would be really appreciated. This is like a gorilla sitting on my chest, I know others have hard burdens to carry...but two dogs with cancer...is this a sick joke... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GentleLake Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 I'm sorry I don't have any advice to offer, but wanted to express my sadness for what you're going through. You're right; it's an extremely sick joke. One that should never be played on anyone. I'm so sorry you and your dogs are experiencing this. roxanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gideon's girl Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 I'm so sorry you are going through this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Root Beer Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 I have no advice, but I am sorry. Nobody should have to go through that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tea Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 Sorry, that is very sad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamplands Farm Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 The question you need to ask is, "What kind of cancer is it?" The problem with getting an answer to that is; you'll likely need to go to a specialist. He'll need a CAT scan/MRI and a biopsy. The diagnostics -before you ever get to treatment options -are expensive. The other question you need to ask is, "If we do palliative care only, what will the cancer itself do to him?" "What can we give him to make him as comfortable as possible, for as long as possible?" You would think that those two questions would get answered as a matter of course when you talk to your vet. They don't always, though. There is surgery, radiation, chemo. Those are the standards of cancer treatment . However, if you opt not to do that, there are still drugs that can make the life your dog still has better. I have been were you are now. I'm so very sorry... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urge to herd Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 I am so, so sorry that you, Cody and Duchess are enduring these nightmares. Thinking of you all. Ruth and SuperGibbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackdawgs Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 Actually, the question is "is the lump cancer or something treatable?" Can this be a fungal infection, abcess, foreign body? Last week, 2 vets told me that a diffuse swelling in my dog's mouth was probably cancer. Per biopsy, it is very inflammed, infected gum tissue = very treatable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushdoggie Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 I am so sorry... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcv-border Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 So sorry to hear this. I am sure you will do the best for your dogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 I agree with Blackdawgs; my first step would be to make sure it is cancer and not something else. Fungal lung infections are also notoriously hard to treat, but at this point I'd be spending my veterinary dollars finding out what it really is and whether (and how) it's treatable. I'm sorry you've got two cancer diagnoses. That just sucks. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbc1963 Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 So sorry - sometimes it seems as though you get hit by too much at once, doesn't it? I was diagnosed type 2 diabetic in December, and then just lost my boy Buddy (profile pic) three weeks ago. Too much to manage in a short time period. I can't imagine having to manage two situations with sick dogs at once. Best of wishes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamplands Farm Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 Blackdawgs brings up the point that the mass may not be cancer. That's true. But, if it is the size of a golf ball, can you wait to find out? That is another question. Did the vet see any other sign of cancer on the x-rays? How was the blood work? If those were normal; and given the size of the mass and the location; would make more sense to go ahead with the surgery? Would it take an invasive procedure to get a large enough biopsy sample to test? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody & Duchess Posted March 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 Just back from the vet- did an ultra sound and aspiration biopsy. Definitely is cancer. We were waiting on the specialist who is treating my other dog with cancer, found out she is on vacation. Went with another, got an appointment this afternoon...at least have a plan. Very rarely is cancer found in the lung the primary cancer. But it is looking like we might be that rare case. At this point surgery sounds like an option of actually curing Cody. I read that the surgery is hard on the dog, but if it extends his life for years I will do it. I hope someone on these boards has gone through this and can shed some light on what to expect. Thank you for all your good wishes. mbc1963...so sorry about your loss. Please take good care of yourself..sorry about the type 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diane allen Posted March 13, 2015 Report Share Posted March 13, 2015 So sorry for this dx. I'm not sure how old your dog is, or truly what lung surgery involved. But I had a dog with "suspicious" masses on her liver. She had surgery at age 14 - they removed two masses, had to leave one due to its location, then saw something "suspicious" on her spleen and removed that. Turned out the masses were NOT cancer - thank doG - and she lived another very happy two years. If your dog's cancer truly hasn't spread, I would seriously consider surgery. Best of luck to you. diane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjones Posted March 13, 2015 Report Share Posted March 13, 2015 Best wishes to you and Cody as you work to figure things out. mbc1963 so sorry to hear about Buddy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvw Posted March 13, 2015 Report Share Posted March 13, 2015 I have a friend who had a little terrier with some sort of lung cancer or lung disease. They removed one lobe of one lung. He healed well and had a good quality of life for a while longer. I can't remember exactly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aschlemm Posted March 13, 2015 Report Share Posted March 13, 2015 My deepest sympathy for what you are going through. Your first dog with cancer; how old? Did they come up with what type of cancer? Even if surgery isn't an option there are drugs that can slow cancer growth. How old is your dog with the lung cancer? What type of cancer does he have? I work as a Vet Tech and we have dogs with lung cancer currently. In my area typically people can't afford to go all out but we did have one client with a Basset Hound who had surgery to remove the affected lung lobe. I'll find his chart tomorrow and look up what type of cancer he had and how long he survived after surgery. I know he did well for a while. I think they did Chemo with him also, but the cancer had spread microscopically and he has since passed away. Usually our clients go with medication, Prednisone, Maarax syrup or torbutrol for the cough. Some lung cancers are slow growing. I'm so sorry for what you are going through. I've been there (one dog though, and he had an aggressive cancer.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aschlemm Posted March 14, 2015 Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 I looked up the chart about the Basset Hound. We saw him November 2011 for coughing and saw the lung tumor on X-ray. They went to the specialist/oncologist within the month. He had the lung lobe removed, surrounding lymph nodes checked and a needle aspirate of his spleen. His tumor was greater than 5 cm which is a worse prognosis, his lymph nodes were also involved which was a worse prognosis also. The spleen checked out o.k. The tumor was a pulmonary carcinoma. They did Chemo and follow up x-rays did not show any return of cancer but he died in April of 2012 from pneumonia. I had forgotten about that, I thought the cancer had returned. He is the only dog I've known to have the surgery. I'm sorry the results aren't better. Hope it gives you some information. We have had clients that only did medication and the dog has lived longer but perhaps it was a different cancer, or a benign tumor or a fungal infection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue R Posted March 14, 2015 Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 I really feel for you. This is so hard to bear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody & Duchess Posted March 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 Thank you Aschlemm for providing the results of the basset hound....sure wish they were better. Cody's breathing is quickly getting more labored. Waiting on the biopsy report. Made an appointment with the surgeon and cancer dr...earliest appointment next Friday morning. Still trying to gather information - lots of research on the Internet ( which is truly scary). If the doctors think they can extend his life by years we will do the surgery. If it is months, we will not put him through the pain of the operation.Cody is my shadow, my baby boy. To think a week ago I was worrying about how he would take losing he pal Gracie Lou (soft tissue cancer) . She is living longer than we expected and still enjoying life playing frisbee and eating...but we know it is just a short period left. Now I fear his days may not be long. Still trying to figure how to frame this in a manner that will make it bearable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aschlemm Posted March 14, 2015 Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 I'm sorry for what you are going through. Perhaps a way to frame it is that: You love your dogs, you want what is best for them, they are VERY lucky dogs to have you as an owner. Someone who is very concerned about their feelings and comfort. Unfortunately, none of us live forever and as owners we are usually faced with gut-wrenching decisions for our dogs and can only strive to think of what is best for them and pray that we are doing what they would choose for themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D'Elle Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 You have my greatest sympathy for what you are going through. No one should have to face that with two dogs at once. One is horrible enough. The only thing I can say that might possibly help is to suggest that you find an online support group for people with dogs who have cancer. They all know what you are going through and can be extremely supportive, not to mention they will sometimes have used methods for care or even treatment that your vet doesn't know. When my beloved cat had chronic renal failure, an online support group gave me the information that kept him alive with a good quality of life for three whole years after the vets said that there was nothing they knew to do. And when he finally had to die they were there for me. We will be here for you too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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