My dog has cancer so sad

Options

I am so sad my dog was just diagnosed with cancer (fibrosarcoma). She had cancer when she was 5 and we had half of her lower jaw removed, she healed great and has been happy and healthy. A few weeks ago we noticed a huge lump on her neck. The vet put her on antibiotics hoping it was a swollen lymhp node, but no such luck. The biopsy came back cancer. She is 11 years old and treatment is limited. My heart is breaking.

6 months before is was diagnosed with BC my other dog broke her leg and then was diagnosed with bone cancer, now my other dog. I go for my first mammogram since my surgery next month and I am so fearful history is going to repeat itself.

Thanks for listening

Comments

  • dogsandjogs
    dogsandjogs Member Posts: 1,907
    edited June 2013

    I am so sorry. One of my dogs passed away a month before my lumpectomy. The other one 4 months later. It is truly horrifying when you have so many tragedies so close together. I was very distraught for many months and still miss them terribly. A year and a half ago I rescued a black, ear-cropped, ear-infected, worm-ridden, older pit bull from the shelter. I truly believe my two other dogs sent her to me.

    I know you will have the courage to do the right thing for your dog. It is so hard ---I had to make decisions for both of mine. One had an auto-immune disease which attacked all the muscles in his body; he was suffering. The other had a burst spleen tumor - he was 14 so I just couldn't put him thru surgery at his age

    Sending prayers and positive thoughts your way---

  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited June 2013

    Mrenee68,

    We're so sorry to hear this news! We know how those furry friends can really become part of your family and it hurts to see them going through this :(

    Big hugs to you and your family and best of luck on your mammogram -- we're sure all will be fine!

    --the Mods

  • Wren44
    Wren44 Member Posts: 8,585
    edited June 2013

    (((((Hugs))))) It's so hard to lose our fur babies. I lost one the month before diagnosis and the other the day we decided to do the mastectomy. They were both rescue kitties adopted as seniors. Now I'm fostering for the local shelter to get my kitty fix. Good luck for your mammo. We all get spooked when one is due.

  • mrenee68
    mrenee68 Member Posts: 383
    edited June 2013

    Thanks so much for all of your kind words. Sometimes I just wish life would stop for a bit and let me catch my breath. I guess one blessing is that my dog has no clue she is sick so there is no worrying for her.

    Thanks again.

  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited June 2013

    I'm so sorry! And nothing like it happening right at scanxiety time for you. 

    Last year our beloved orange tabby cat was dx with lymphoma and given just a couple of months to live.  The vet was all for starting chemo.  When I asked what chemo drugs would be used, he said it'd be adriamycin and cytoxin.  I asked how much more time those drugs might buy him and the vet admitted it'd only be 4-6 months.  I told the vet that I'd been on those drugs myself and I wasn't going to put anyone through those drugs for a few months just to get a few more months - where's the QOL in that?  Instead we went to pallitive care, spoiled him rotten, and gave him whatever he wanted to eat - we spent a fortune in salmon, tuna, shrimp, roast beef, etc.  We bought a small warming pad and he loved sleeping on that.  We did whatever we could to make him happy and comfortable.  He made it 6 months and his QOL didn't really deteriorate until that last week or so when we had to make the ultimate decision for him. 

    If the treatment options are limited, then take this opportunite to spoil your furkid rotten!  Steak!  Chicken!  Roast Beef!  Whatever is his favorite, he gets.  Relax the house rules and let him up on the sofa or bed as much as he wants.  Do whatever you can to give him the best last few months of life.  As you say, the good thing is that they don't know what's going on, so there's no fear or anxiety for them.  As far as they're concerned, it's all good. 

  • mrenee68
    mrenee68 Member Posts: 383
    edited June 2013

    NatsFan you are so right, my plan is to spoils her rotten. She has already been through so much. Her favorite thing is chips, Doritos she loves. When the time comes I know that she has lived a happy life and has helped me live a happy life.

    Thank you for the support.

  • bobogirl
    bobogirl Member Posts: 2,777
    edited June 2013

    Renee, what a great idea from Natsfan!  I second that excellent plan.

    We have all been through this with furbabies and we are all with you.  I have regrets -- sometimes I think I made my man hold on too long.  I just felt he wasn't ready to go.   I feel badly if I caused him any additional pain.  I am not saying any of this regarding your situation... I am just trying to tell you (and I'm doing an awkward job of it) that I know how you feel.  I know how much you love her and she loves you.

    Sending you and yours so many hugs.

  • Jaybird627
    Jaybird627 Member Posts: 2,144
    edited June 2013

    BIG (((HUGS))).

    My late cocker was dx with 'mammary gland cancer' when I was dx w/BC. She had surgery and that was that. She passed, suddenly,  of old age or some other not-diagnosed ailment many years later.

    I wish both of you well. Hold each other close. Saying prayers...

    Janis

  • mrenee68
    mrenee68 Member Posts: 383
    edited June 2013

    bobogirl and Janis thank you both so much for the kind words and support. I don't have a lot of close human companions, so it's nice to know I am not alone in this situation. My furbabies mean the world to me. Thanks again.

  • nlm
    nlm Member Posts: 96
    edited June 2013

    I am so sorry. Hopefully she does not suffer, and you still have time to make memories with her and spoil her.

    My thoughts are with you at this difficult time.

    Nancy

  • onalark2
    onalark2 Member Posts: 1
    edited June 2013

    We are crying with you about your companions.  I'm so sorry you have to go through all this.

  • mrenee68
    mrenee68 Member Posts: 383
    edited June 2013

    Nancy and onalark, thank you for your kind words and support. I hope that we will have more time together. Last night she had a few bites of ribs, she loved it. We know she has had a good life and when the time comes we will do what is right for her.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2013

    mrenee68:  We had to put down our little Shi Tzu last summer, due to stomach/liver cancer.  She was the BEST little companion ever and we all cried when we had to take her in to the vet that last day. Vet said give her anything she wants, including sugary snacks, because the cancer is eating all the sugar in her.  So she had a daily smorgasboard of goodies, twinkies, cereal, marshmallows and of course, her regular food.  They will tell you when it's time to go.  She had lost 1/2 her body weight at the end and vet said her veins were shutting down.  My heart breaks when I hear of other stories of pets w/cancer !  Huggzzz

  • mrenee68
    mrenee68 Member Posts: 383
    edited June 2013

    Shelly thanks so much for your story. Life is just so hard right now and the last thing I wanted was to deal with my dog having cancer. She is doing well and I am giving her extra snacks and people food.

    Thanks

Categories