Ethical Issue: Cancer Treatment Decisions

[silky boy]

Sarah ,we have more in commen then you realize.Carl had two cruciate ligament surgery, right then the left,then his knee started to click, the meniscus had not held up as the vet hoped it would,a third surgery (less exspense) removed the meniscus,Carl was extra large,to large,the first vet did not do dogs that large,the second one did and it worked.no need to say sorry,I did sound a little defensive. Wally
Hi ccarter good for you,enjoy your girl.Our rottie before carl ,a girl Casey had severe hip dysplasia, it showed up at 8 month. but she did get to be 10 years old. Wally

[woward]

Sadly, I learned today that my old girl, Cookie, has a bone tumor in her right humerus. Our vet doesn't know if it is a met from the lymphoma that has been in remission for 9 months or if it is a different form of cancer. Cookie was quite suddenly expressing great pain in her leg/shoulder area starting on Saturday. Xrays clearly show the affected area.

Again, the vet (who I like very much) started down the path of lots of tests and various treatment options including chemo, radiation, etc. I patiently reminded her that we'd been down this road 9 months ago and had decided not to take extreme measures but only to make sure our girl was pain-free and had a good quality of life. Rather than making it tough on us, our vet immediately reversed course and recommended a regimen of pain medication using NSAIDs.

We feel very strongly that our original decision not to treat the lymphoma was the right one for Cookie. She has had a wonderful 9 months spending her time hiking, snow trekking and teaching manners to our two new puppies. Until Saturday she was playing fetch and had trekked 4 miles through the snow last week. Our memories of her vigorous lifestyle have been reinforced by the extra quality time we've had with her. We don't want to taint that by having her now spend time sick from useless, aggressive cancer treatments.

She's incredibly tough and may just knock this cancer too. But if not, she'll be with Bob shortly and they can play across the Bridge.

Bill

[BullDaisymom]

woward

Sadly I know only to well what you are going through. This July will mark the 5th anniversary of loosing our Neely due to bone cancer in her left shoulder and half of her leg. This cancer spreads fast.Chemo,surgery etc. wasn't an option for our girl. I wish you luck and hope you baby is as pain fre as possible.

[andyrocky]

Sadly, I came to this site through internet research after my boy, Koda, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. My first Rottie and my retired K9 partner. I have had other dogs go to the rainbow bridge and are waiting for me there. Maybe it is the harsh nature of the disease (my first dog to be diagnosed with cancer) or the bond we have shared, but it is tough. Boy it is hard to imagine how much he would change many people's ideas of Rotties and so completely enter our hearts. What a terrific and magnificent breed!!!

It is tremendsouly helpful to come here and see we are not alone going through this aweful experience. It has helped me understand what to expect and face some very difficult decisions. We have decided to make his remaining time with us as painfree as possible as long as he can reasonably enjoy life.

Thanks to all of you for sharing the info.

[ccarter]

We had to put down Katie last Monday. My prayers were answered for help because she got up and played and was interested in life that morning. My son had to take her inside the Vets because I couldn't quit crying. When she didn't want to go outside or get into the car I knew it was time. I have to believe that they are loved and taken care of when they leave us. Someone wrote about taking their Rottie in while he still had lots of self esteem and pride. Thankfully I got that time period and it helps.

[hapkido99]

I am had this terrible decision myself. Our sweet gal was diagnosed with lymphoma monday after i found the lumps on Sunday night. Blood work and the biopsy came back with what we both new already:( We are taking her in tomorrow morning for her last trip. The last several days have been the most horrible of my life and I cannot believe how torn I have been about what is the proper thing to do. Should I now, should I wait.......In the end it is what is best for her, she has lost the spark and I have to do the proper thing. It is going to be a very long night..

[woward]

Unfortunately our nearly eleven year old bitch, Cookie, had to be put to sleep last night. A few hours earlier I called her from a nap to take a walk and she hurt herself getting up. Apparently, her bones were thin and brittle from the cancer and she broke her hip just by standing up quickly. She was suddenly in greater pain than the meds could handle even at much larger doses. She had been doing really well on her pain meds since her bone cancer diagnosis almost 6 weeks ago (see my earlier post). With the meds she showed no pain and continued to play ball and work with our two puppies. She still enjoyed walks although she no longer had the stamina for long hikes. She never lost her appetite. We stopped at our favorite bakery on the way to the vet and shared our last cookie together.

Our vet was very good when I took Cookie in. She confirmed the extent of the injury and totally supported my decision to put Cookie down. For the first time in such a situation there was no discussion of alterntive treatments to needlessly extend her life. I really appreciated the vet's attitude and it made the decision much more bearable.

I started this thread while facing the dilemma of how to treat my two year old Rottie with lymphoma. The veterinary options in that case are what caused me to start pondering the Ethical Issues we all have when faced with this situation.

I'm very sad about Cookie's passing but am happy that the vet was so supportive of my decision in this case. I hope any of you facing a similar situation get the same support from your vets.

Cookie has now joined her brothers. There should be a lot of wiggling butts waiting at the gate to greet me when I get there...

[BullDaisymom]

hapkido & woward..... I am sooo sorry. There isn't alot of words to use at a time like this. All I can say is...I have been in your shoes 5 yrs ago ( this July) with my Neely. My heart still aches but I have beautiful memories that make me smile when the sad ones are there. You did and are doing the right thing for your babies. My heart aches for you both but rest assure,for them to be pain free our broken hearts is worth it. Fly with angels our dear freinds.

[webangel2b]

Just today, I choose not to do Chemo on my 4.5yo baby girl.

She's my daughter for all practical purposes - now I have to lose her.

OMG is this hard!!!! I did choose Prednosine, we hope for some extra time. She's not even sick yet, it's hard to believe she's sick - this suks!

[webangel2b]

My 4.5 yo was diagonised Wednesday with lymphomia. She is on prednosine (no chemo), raw diet, all the protine i can find for her.

We'll fight until it comes back, we have to!

[Buggy]

I just found this topic and wanted to say my girl was diagnosed with fibrosarcoma in her nose at age 3.When the Dr. told me what it was, a grape sized growth, I said let me go in and say good-bye and we'll let her go. I just knew it was going to be bad. But he convinced me to try surgery, through her palate they snipped the thing and sewed her mouth. When labs came through the vet pushed me to take her to Boston for radical surgery -they would have to rebuild the roof of her mouth, and use chemo or radiation or both. Her expected time left on earth, maybe 1 year. I asked how long without the surgery? --- 6 weeks. I took the 6 weeks. She ate like a pig, ran the beaches every day and slept like a baby. The day she had trouble breathing again I called a vet she didn't know to come to my house. It was never the money - I would have found it. It was her - always and only about her. I learned something from her while watching her run her butt of on the beach - she didn't know she was sick or dying - it was me suffering. They live in the moment. We can only do what we best know how to do for them and it is a very personal choice and no one should be criticized for their choice.
Webangel2b I wish you strength for this journey ahead and I hope for the best for you both.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by Buggy

Her expected time left on earth, maybe 1 year. I asked how long without the surgery? --- 6 weeks.

I took the 6 weeks.

She ate like a pig, ran the beaches every day and slept like a baby. The day she had trouble breathing again I called a vet she didn't know to come to my house. It was never the money - I would have found it.

It was her - always and only about her.

I learned something from her while watching her run her butt of on the beach - she didn't know she was sick or dying - it was me suffering.

It's been a long time since I've read wisdom such as this in so few words. Thank you.

[Buggy]

Thank you moondog. It's been three years since she left and I still puddle up. Guess we just never get over that hump - - nor would I want to .

[webangel2b]

TY Buggy!

I too will grieve for my girl... a very long time.

Solice for me is that our Jesse girl will be waiting for her with a pair of wings. She deserves the best and that's what I'm going to try and give her. I just hope I know/pick the right time.

[observer]

Thank you from me, too, buggy. Wise words for those of us who have been through what you have, and those who are facing it now or will be in the future. It's been ten years since I made that decision in a cancer context, and only six weeks since I made it in a different context. Yes, the memory is sad, and always will be... but no regrets about the decisions. It is all, always, all about the dog.