Diagnosed with Spleen Cancer

[RomiandBone]

Hello, I am new to this website therefore never writing anything. I have stopped by to read once and awhile though

Yesterday (8/4/06) my precious Rottie--Romi was diagnosed with spleen cancer. Has anyone else endured this? We were told we have two options--first attempting surgery and second...I can't even write it. The tumor on the spleen has not burst yet so that is why surgery is an option. However, the Vet warned me that once we start the surgery she may discover the cancer has spread elsewhere leaving us no option. Romi is my second dog. My first Rottie, Bone, died 4 years ago of bone cancer. His bones became so brittle they broke. Romi was never the same after Bone died--they were brothers who were always together. During the past 4 years he has developed severe arthritis that makes getting into and out of cars hard, going up stairs, getting on the sofa difficult, etc.... I should probably share that Romi is 10 years old--will be 11 in October.

I am so torn on what to do. I LOVE my Romi so much and would do anything for him. However, I need to do what is best for him...not me. The vet said this surgery may lengthen his life by 6 months to a year and maybe less or more. To make matters worse Romi has lost a lot of weight within just one month due to the spleen cancer.

I have always spoiled him--but since receiving yesterday's news I just can't get enough cuddles and kisses:):)

If any of you have gone through this let me know. I would love to hear different stories.

[mrrsteelers]

My first dog, Beagle/Blue Tick, went though something like this. He was 13 though. One day he just fell over and seemed paralyzed. They did a bunch of tests and figured he had cancer but would need to look. The Dr.s said prolly not much they could do, but they could try if I wanted. I said to do it. He called back an hour later sayin he had small tumors on multiple organs (so possibly in the brain and spine too hence the paralasys)
I hope thats not the case for you, but cancers spread so be prepared. Also like people, early detection helps.

[targonrotts]

so sorry to hear the news on your good buddy.
they can live without their spleen...i have had 2 go thru that, not necessarily because of cancer, but if you decide on surgery, and they find it has spread, you need to make a decision if to let him wake back up or not.
i personally would do the surgery. if it only means a few more months to a year.
but it's a personal choice.
also, how was the rest of his check up?blood work? any xrays or ultrasounds taken?
it's never easy. i wish you both the best.

[RomiandBone]

Thank you for your opinion--I really appreciate the response. I am still torn. My husband thinks we should pass on the surgery due to the fact his arthritis is so severe at this point and that he is 10 1/2 years old. I am feeling like a day more...a month more....any more time is better than none. The xrays showed a large mass on the spleen--very close to the liver. His chest xray came out clear--so that was good news. However, the vet warned me several times that it could have spread or come back soon after the spleen is removed. That is why I am so torn. I do not want to put him through anymore pain than needed, yet I do not want to take away his precious life if I do not have too. I am going to call the vet on Monday and discuss things more.
As I write this Romi is laying under my feet. Even with his bad hips he still follows me everywhere--no matter how hard it is for him to go up the stairs he still does it. He is a VERY special dog (so was my other Rottie) and my life will never be the same without him:):) Only other Rottweiler owners seem to understand that!
Thanks again for your response. I will update this post when I make a decision.

[spoiledbabies3]

I am so very sorry to hear about your boy Romi. I can tell you that this is a personal decision, and that no one can really tell you what to do. You have to do what is best for Romi. I also have a 10.5 yo male that has been diagnosed with cancer in his spleen. However, prior to doing surgery I requested a sonogram to help determine whether or not there were additional tumors that did not show up on the x-ray. Don't ask me why I did it, I honestly don't know, I just somehow felt I needed to know before he underwent such a difficult recovery time from abdominal surgery. And much to my dismay, a 2nd inoperable tumor was discovered. We have opted no surgery to date, we do not feel the quality of life for Samson would be right...to do surgery and remove one tumor and not the other...we feel it would only aggravate the cancer cells and perhaps even speed up their progress. Samson also has slight HD in his rear right hip, and arthritis in the other rear hip. Instead, we have opted to take a different route. We discovered the cancer in its early stages so the vet has Samson on amoxicillan to enable his body to fight off any secondary type of infection that could develop and also on prednisone, a steriod. We have also opted to change his diet to a cancer diet designed specifically to help with such diseases. The diet enables the body to work to fight the disease better. He also gets glucosamine and other supplements to help. Out concern is anemia, and to date he has shown no signs of it. Samson was diagnosed in April, exactly 1 week after he turned 10. I have lost 2 others to cancer, Tuxedo in 2001 to OS and Sasha earlier this year to lymphoma. I know personally the heartache with this horrific disease. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers as you make such a difficult decision.

[missrock]

As per your quote "He is a VERY special dog (so was my other Rottie) and my life will never be the same without him:):) Only other Rottweiler owners seem to understand that!" AMEN. I lost the only two Rotties, I've ever had, both at age seven to cancer.........I'm going to get another one.........My friends think I'm crazy..........I am.........about Rotts.

I think Spoiledbabie3 has some very good advice. First see if there is any other way to determine the prescence of any other tumors. If they're there, you probably have your answer. If not, you're left with the decision of putting your ten and one half year old through major surgery. I don't envy your decision. Talking with your Vet some more may help with the process. As I read so often on this forum, search your heart and do what seems right for your beloved dog. It's hard as hell, but remember.... You've always done your best for Romi as you did for Bone. The right answer frequently isn't the easy one. Either one you choose here will be tough, but you're in the right place to get support. Best of luck to you and Romi.

[observer]

My Annie was diagnosed with a mass in her intestines. I scheduled her for surgery, in the hopes that the mass could be removed and she would recover. She actually got much worse over the weekend before the Monday surgery. The surgeon told me to be by the phone so he could call from the OR if necessary. He called within minutes after the surgery was to begin, and told me that he could remove the large mass and give her maybe a few months, but that there were other small tumors on the liver and elsewhere. He told me he would never have known how sick she was on the inside from how she looked on the outside. She was two months past her 11th birthday, and was otherwise healthy, in terms of no significant arthritis, etc. I let her go right then. The extra months would have been for me, not for her (we can NEVER have them long enough) and the recovery from the surgery would cause her more discomfort during whatever time she would have left.

From what you have told us, and trying to do what is best for the dog, I would choose to let him go, no matter how painful it would be for me. Dogs don't care about tomorrow, or next week. They only know how they feel in the here and now.

Whatever you decide, we are here to support you. I am so sorry you are all going through this.

[AngelBunny]

I am sorry for your dismaying news. I know how this news has sent you emotionally reeling.

I do not have experience with the type of cancer your Romi has, but I do have experience with other types of cancer. I've lost several Rotties to various types of cancer, both personal dogs and fosters.

Quality of life is very important to me. I have a living will. I have DNR orders. I have not opted for surgery for any of my dogs. When our last girl was diagnosed with nasal carcinoma, I researched our options. I talked to a specialist. I thought hard about what I heard, putting things into the context of my dog.

Based on the type of dog she was, her age, and the logistics involved in her treatment, my DH and I decided not to treat her. The biggest factor in our decision was that the surgeon could offer no assurances she’d live any longer with treatment vs. no treatment.

When a beloved pet is diagnosed with such a terrible disease, I think our first response is to do all we can to try to fix things, to make the dog better. It can be so very hard to separate our wishes to have our pet in our lives for as long as possible from what is in the pet’s best interest. Sometimes they aren’t the same, especially when the pet is aging.

I will keep you and Romi in my thoughts.

[RomiandBone]

How can I thank all of you that have responded to what I wrote. Everything I read has been extremely helpful for me during this difficult time.

Since finding out last Friday my emotions have been on a roller coaster. I cry...snuggle with Romi....cry....snuggle with Romi...etc... I decided to take some of your's advice and gain more information. On Monday I brought Romi in for more blood work and I talked to a different Vet--at another clinic--just to get more insight.

Romi is anemic which is not good at all. He also started to pant heavier and is starting to look bloated. After much thought and many tears my husband and I have decided no surgery and to put Romi to sleep as soon as he started showing signs of distress. In the meanwhile we were going to continue spoiling him and feeding him anything he wanted. We are going to cherish every minute we have with him.

Well, within 1 day of making that decision Romi has declined tremendously. He is hungry but can't keep food down. He is very tired and not the active senior Rottie he was. He still goes up and down the stairs--follows me everywhere...but last night I could see the struggle in his eyes. He was doing that stair climb for ME....and my heart broke. I called my vet today and tomorrow we will bring him in for the last time. My husband and I will be there talking to him and letting him know what a good friend he has been. I know that once he leaves us his brother Bone will be waiting for him--I have to believe that to give myself some comfort. They were best friends on earth and I know they will be again in Heaven. My children (ages 6 & 4) kind of understand what is going on--but not really. It will be hard when I return without Romi. We have tried to prepare them the best we could but I know that it will be hard and very sad for all of us. Every morning since my 4 year old could walk he gets out of bed and first thing lays on the floor and cuddles with Romi for awhile. No longer seeing this routine will be sad.

Thank you again to all of you for your honest words and stories. It has truly helped me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart .

[spoiledbabies3]

My heart is breaking as tears stream down my face. I am so sorry that Romi has declined so rapidly. Please know that you are doing what is best for him, you are giving him the dignity he deserves to cross the bridge. There will be many waiting to greet him and I'm sure my Sasha will show him the ropes. There are earlier threads this year that mention a great book to help you deal with the loss with your children...please check the rainbow bridge forum to locate it. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. I am so sorry that you are having to deal with this. Godspeed Romi...

[targonrotts]

so sorry...i feel your pain.
as my dogs passed on, i have kept their collars hanging on my back door. every now and then i hear the distinct chime of each one...and it's like they just passed by again.
feel a hug from all of us to your family in this difficult time.

[AngelBunny]

So so sorry, so very very sorry.

As much as your heart is breaking, Romi is giving you a great gift. He's making your decision easier for you. He's removing any inclination to second guess yourselves, eliminating doubts that you haven't done enough. What a magnificent dog.

[observer]

Oh, this is SO sad for all of us. What Romi is going through only makes me remember how sick my Annie really was but wouldn't let us really know that until the morning we took her in for surgery. I am right there with you, as much as I can be. Between Annie and my friend's beloved Duchess, who went to the Bridge in my arms from OS, I know all too well how sad you are.

AngelBunny is SO right. He is letting YOU know that you are doing the right thing. A magnificent dog, indeed, who along with his brother Bone, will be a magnificent Rottie angel to watch over you all.

((((HUGS))))).

[RomiandBone]

Thank you so much to all of you with your kinds words and encouragement. Yes, Romi will be an magnificent Rottie Angel watching over all of us! I like how you worded that observer:) This additional support has been wonderful.

I am trying to enjoy the day--to have more smiles with Romi than tears. I bring him to the vet at 5pm. I know my life will never be the same after that point--but I now know that Romi will be at peace and will enjoy his new adventure in Doggie Heaven:)

Thanks again for ALL OF YOUR posts. It has meant a lot!

[livertw]

I am so sorry. You are giving Romi the gift of release from his suffering. (((hugs)))