Freisia

FreisiaI am so sorry to read of your kelpies diagnosis. Having my Westie diagnosed with a tumour in her spinal cord Tuesday evening, being recommended surgery and chemo, I too am going through this. My two first questions were

1. If we do surgery + chemo, what is the best case scenario?

2. If we do not do surgery and chemo what is the best case scenario?

I was told 6-8 months is the best case scenario with surgery and chemo, 3 months is the likely time she has left with no surgery or chemo.

That gave me infomration to weigh up - am I going to put my beautiful girl through surgery and chemo for a possible 3 month life extension or let her live out her life without treatment as best she can without the trauma of treatment.

Then I asked

What do they do in surgery, how do they get in side the spine to get to the tumour (they drill a hole through bone in the spine to make a window they operate through)

How major is the surgery and what is the recovery time, can the dog die? Recovery time tends to be 3 weeks before the dog can really walk again, sometimes more - some dogs never walk again after the surgery.

What is involved in the chemo, how many times, for how long (three weeks in Brisbane in a special facility)

That was enough for me.

We elected to not do surgery or chemo, and instead to give our girl the best quality of life.

with the help of this forum I found www.dogcancer.net.au and I called George and spoke to him - lovely guy, feel welcome to call him (number is on his website, know they are three hours behind Syd/Melb time) - he has lots of experience with dogs with cancer and helping people with it. Your dogs cancer is different to mine. He may be familiar with it.

Ive now started researching what foods are best to feed dogs living with cancer, seems cancer likes carbs and sugar..... if you google dog cancer you will find alot of info. George's website has heaps of information too. there are also vets who work in holistic medicine, acupuncture and more. I'm just finding all this out myself. Even if you do decide that surgery and/or chemo is best for your dog, the food you feed them is important, and all the alternative therapies can aid recovery. I met a lady in the pet store today when I was buying a harness, and she said apparently tumeric is amazing for dogs with cancer.

I wish you all the best with this difficult time and decisions to make. I send you and your kelpie hugs (I have a kelpie too).

Thank you for taking the time to give such a heart felt and detailed response. Given Sascha is 9 and oh so active, I am leaning towards ignoring the current advice of vet. I feel surgery and chemo would be for my benefit in order to prolong the time I have with her - rather than for her benefit.

I have also researched diet - and given I already cook for my pups, all I need to do is drop the carbs and add more fat and supplements. I do have an holistic vet coming tomorrow for a second opinion and more detailed advice.

Thank you for sharing your story. I understand the heart wrench of the decisions you have made on behalf of your loved one - and support you.

None of us get out of this life alive - I strongly believe the love, joy and quality with which we live is what makes it worth living.

Love to you and yours

Have you seen an oncologist?

What grade is the MCT?

Even if the leg is amputated she will walk the next day, play ball in a week!!

I personally wouldn't do chemo with a dog that hates the vet, but depending on the grade removal of the tumour can be curative.

It is Grade 2. Have been referred to oncologist yet to meet - not keen on chemo

My gorgeous 9 year old kelpie/blue cattle Sascha has a large Grade 2 MCT on her back thigh. It is under the skin showing a lump of about 3cm across. Vet advised surgery and chemo. Surgery will take most of the leg muscle and it will be a month before she can walk, over 3 before she can play ball etc. Vet says there is a possibility that will need to take the whole leg as can not the the depth of tumor until during surgery. Chemo would be for 6 months and will not kill the cancer - simply manage spread apparently.

Sash is so scared of the vet (pees herself on arrival) and is otherwise a happy healthy girl.

For me it is a quality of life issue - is it worth putting her through months of misery for no guarantees?