Here we go again.....cancer

[kimi]

Well cancer has reared its ugly head once again. We had OS and we dealt with that. We have been going for chest xrays every 3 months to make sure we dodged it. Today we also had an abdominal ultrasound because she has something going on with her eye. Her chest xrays came back clear but it seems that there is nodules on her spleen that have grown in the last 3 months. Now what? The Opthamologist called tonight and we are going to have a biopsy of her spleen. She is not totally sure of what it could be. Anyone have some words of encouragement? My dog is still very happy and the vet says her eye is not bothering her.

[AngelBunny]

I am sorry. Cancer is such a terrible problem in our breed.

How old is your girl?

[kimi]

Angelbuddy, my girl is 8 years old. We have had 2 TPLOs, a partial lower right jaw amputated, chemotherapy and now this. We will know for sure after a biopsy of the spleen. She is totally blind in her left eye and the vets suspected that she has other things going on inside that this maybe connected to. I am so very sad.....I had no idea you could get more than one kind of cancer..... thanks for listening......

[AngelBunny]

Yes, I remember your girl now. You posted about having a portion of her lower jaw removed.

I am very sorry. You are likely facing a sad, heartbreaking decision.

[livertw]

I am sorry the future looks so dim. You have done your best. ((((hugs))))

[Melsmom]

I am so very sorry to hear this. Maybe they can remove the cancer again? My sister has a Collie who is 9. He had cancer on his back next to his vertabrae. They removed what they hope was all of it and he is actually doing well. He has his moments when he is not up to running around, but that was his third operation. His sister, a female Collie also had cancer and was given 3 months to live, she lived 1 1/2 years.

I hope your baby will be ok.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by Melsmom

I am so very sorry to hear this. Maybe they can remove the cancer again?

I think it is our responsibility to be VERY careful to consider what the dog is being put through with our decisions on cancer treatments. A dog's perspective is much different than ours, they live in the moment not in hope of the future. This moment to a dog is the past, the present, AND the future and it's important to fully realize that when making decisions on their behalf and make sure the decision is in the best interest of the dog, not our heartbreak at the thought of losing them.

Kimi, I'm sorry she has taken a downturn. I don't think this cancer is something new, but the same cancer she's had all along, that is rearing its ugly head again. My thoughts are with you, and especially with your dog, who has been the best dog she could be for you.

[Sam's Mom]

It is so hard when faced with these situations, I am so sorry for the pain you and your girl are experiencing still/again so soon around her health issues.
Moondog speaks from the heart and gives very sound advice.

[TashaT]

I am so sorry to hear about your girl. I hope that everything works out.

[kimi]

I am so glad you are all hear as a sounding board because no one really understands better than all of you. Kyra had her spleen biopsied this week because she is blind in one eye so the docs thought it has mastasized from somewhere else. no cancer in her spleen, just non cancerous stuff. Her chest xrays were clear and the liver is fine. She is not in any pain, but she is very blind in one eye. She has had OS and is beating it !!!!!! 9 months out now. Should we have her eye out? Opthamologist suggest this, should we? She has half a bottom jaw and is still so full of life, she is 8. She acts like a puppy still. Thanks everyone...

[moondog]

Being blind in an eye doesn't in itself necessitate removal of the eye, so I can't help but wonder why the opthamologist recommends removing it.

What's the problem with the eye that precipitates his recommendation? How will removing the eye benefit her? Is there cancer in the eye?

[szky]

I too would ask why removing the eye is necessary. There is a test to measure the pressure in the eye. We-Chi (Shih Tzu) had a number of eye issues, one of which required the eye to be removed. He had a massive bacterial infection and his eye pressure was like 70 (I seem to recall the eye pressure should be in the teens). If the pressure is too high, it causes pain in the area similar to a human having a migraine.

[brunie's mom]

Originally Posted by kimi

I am so glad you are all hear as a sounding board because no one really understands better than all of you. Kyra had her spleen biopsied this week because she is blind in one eye so the docs thought it has mastasized from somewhere else. no cancer in her spleen, just non cancerous stuff. Her chest xrays were clear and the liver is fine. She is not in any pain, but she is very blind in one eye. She has had OS and is beating it !!!!!! 9 months out now. Should we have her eye out? Opthamologist suggest this, should we? She has half a bottom jaw and is still so full of life, she is 8. She acts like a puppy still. Thanks everyone...

Sadly...she has OS, she has not beaten it.
This terrible disease will show up somewhere else. Things change with this disease quickly.

I wonder also why the vet wants to put her through another sugery again?

It comes to a point where they can be slicing and dicing this poor dog every few months and running tests,etc...is it fair to this dog?

What you see in your mind is still the puppy that you fell in love with...what do other family members say?

It's heartbreaking whatever you decide.

Gina

[kimi]

The pressure was 14 in her eye. The opthamologist wants to remove it to see what it is. I don't think we are going to have the eye out until it starts to bother her. When she starts pawing at it, then we will know it bothers her. We do drops 4 times a day. Three different sets. Who knows.... I also know that it is only a matter of time before the OS shows up again in another form. We are going to let her just be a dog......happy and playful and see what the future holds.....

[szky]

What drops are prescribed????? I'm not a Vet, but based on what my dogs have been through, 14 seems normal. Wei-Chi had a shot, directly in his eye, that helped reduce the pressure. If I read your post right, the Vet wants to remove the eye to see what's wrong??!!! I would get a second opinion.