Hello everyone, I'm a new member on this site. I wish I had known about it YEARS ago, as it seems very informative & bustling with activity & useful advice. I wish I could've had a string of positive, happy posts under my belt before today, telling you of all the funny, smart, and incredible things my dog has done. But unfortunately, my first post will be about the dreaded monster that is Osteosarcoma................
My 7-year old baby-girl Xena was officially diagnosed with this awful beast approximately 3-weeks ago, and my mind is still whirling from the news.
It started as a limp from a VERY short walk on 1/20/08. Then, a couple of days later I noticed a slight 'bulge' on her front right wrist (Distal radius), but just assumed that her arthritis must be getting worse. (She had elbow dysplasia surgery on that same leg when she was 3-years old, and has had a slight limp ever since)
I brought her back to the specialist who had originally performed the surgery, assuming the whole time that they would tell me it's her arthritis worsening & that I would find out what I can do about it. (She's already been on Derramax for nearly 5-years now) But when they saw it, they quickly invited several other doctors in to see her leg. (???) After a while, my doctor came back in to tell me what the likely diagnosis would be. I was absolutely stunned!! I couldn't believe my ears! How could my 7-year old girl POSSIBLY have a terminal illness??? She's always been a very healthy girl, never had any problems with her biology in any way!? (Other than the joint malformation, but that is structural) Never had any digestive issues, never been sick a day in her life. Hell, she's never even had any of the possible side effects they tell you about from ANY of the medications she's ever had!!? (Anethesia, anti-biotics, Derramax, Glyco-flex, you name it) So, how could this be???
This office visit ended with Xena staying the night for a chest X-ray, bloodwork, and a bone biopsy. It was very tough sitting home all night thinking about all this new information........and without Xena there!! If this was practice for what's to come, I don't want any!! Anyway........
After about a week-and-a-half, they finally got back to me with the results: Chest is clear, blood looks good.......but unfortunately, she DOES have Osteosarcoma.......
They offered the usual line of treatment for this disease; Immediate amputation, followed closely by Chemo-therapy & follow-up visits. 'Will that save her?', I asked. 'Can we beat this thing??' 'What are her chances???'
I think all of you already know the answers to these questions, as I do now.
Which leaves me in this current state of moral dilemma. Do I spend countless thousands of dollars to ensure that the last chapter of my happy dog's wonderful life is spent as an amputee undergoing Chemo-therapy? Only to end up dying in the relatively near future of some other kind(s) of organ cancer once this thing spreads??
Or do I do what's best for HER, regardless of how difficult it will surely be for me?? That is to let her go comfortably, peacefully, and with every ounce of her dignity intact. No cancer growing rampant throughout her body, just a painful lump on her wrist.
The truth is, I'm not actually asking for advice on what I should do, as I know that already. Actually, I knew it almost right away. Just wanted to share my thoughts on this subject since, as far as I can tell, this disease affects LOTS of us Rottweiler 'parents'. It's rather unfortunate that we have to be faced with such decisions to make, but our pets are fortunate to have us looking out for them. Because if they were out in the wild, the cancer would have it's way with them, right until the bitter end. And that would be a shame!!
Right now Xena is on Tromodyl & doing fairly well. She will remain on it until it no longer has the desired effect. After that, she will have one last happy visit to the Vet that will be no different to her than any other time she's been there. (She absolutely LOVES going there!! Strangest thing........) I will miss her dearly & will likely be affected by her loss for quite some time, but she will be relieved of her fate and out of pain.
Well, that's my story. Hope it wasn't too long, and hope reading it can help any others that are currently being faced with these same, tough choices. The 'right' thing to do is a very individual decision, one that can only be reached after many, many hours/days/weeks of comtemplating. But regardless of ones final decision, it will surely be a tough road for many months to come.
Bye for now................
MK