birni Posted March 5, 2005 Share Posted March 5, 2005 Hi all, Bad news last week .... I took my beloved 6 year old Akita to the vet mainly for a check up as I had noticed a few things that didn't seem right (you know the type of things that you can't necessarily put in words but you just "know" aren't your pup!). She found a very enlarged lymph on his hind leg and after prelim tests (needle aspirate) is pretty certain it is lymphosarcoma. She has given him three months.... I am so devastated! 9 months ago I lost my first akita, Suki, to cancer. She was 13 1/2 so although it broke my heart, she was really on "borrowed time" anyways. It feels like yesterday that I made the decision to give her to the angels though. Then unexpectedly I lost my cat, Smudge, in January this year. He was 10. And now I get Kiya's news. Needless to say I spent last weekend questioning with all the "why's" you could come up with, knowing that there is no answer! Anyway, I am keen to hear from anyone who may have been through it or who may have any ideas. Heck... anyone at all really! Unfortunately chemo isn't an option. So I have him on cortisone - high doses at the moment but am about to start tapering them off. It has had a great effect so far - he had gotten very fussy with food but is now eating two full meals a day (he's only ever been a one meal a day dog). The lump seems to have decreased in size and hardness but is still there. Cheers, Birni Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ish Posted March 5, 2005 Share Posted March 5, 2005 Very sorry to hear about your boy, I haven't experienced lymphosarcoma before but I know what its like to lose your best mate. My 2 1/2 year old GSD Bayliss was taken suddenly a few years ago and I was just devestated. I guess all you can do is just love him, spend alot of time with him and know that we are thinking of you. Fingers crossed that the vet has got it wrong. I would've given anything to give Bailey one last kiss on his nose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ish Posted March 5, 2005 Share Posted March 5, 2005 Very sorry to hear about your boy, I haven't experienced lymphosarcoma before but I know what its like to lose your best mate. My 2 1/2 year old GSD Bayliss was taken suddenly a few years ago and I was just devestated. I guess all you can do is just love him, spend alot of time with him and know that we are thinking of you. Fingers crossed that the vet has got it wrong. I would've given anything to give Bailey one last kiss on his nose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miranda Posted March 5, 2005 Share Posted March 5, 2005 Hi Birni, I have had a dog with lymphosarcoma, you will find that the cortisone treatment works very well, as you have already noticed it makes the dog very hungry and thirsty and he will probably also put on weight over time. Cortisone does have some side effects when used over a long period, but a lot depends on how much you can decrease the dosage whilst still maintaining its efficacy. A friend of mine currently has a dog suffering from this disease and he is still well nine months after the initial diagnosis. However in his case the condition was picked up very early and this does make a difference in the prognosis. Enjoy your dog each day and try not to think too much of the future, you will know by the look in his eyes when his time has come. My heart goes out to you at this terrible time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scales of Justice Posted March 5, 2005 Share Posted March 5, 2005 Make sure you get a distinction between Lymphoma and Lymphosarcoma. Prognosis may be different for both. My dog was diagnosed initially with Lymphosarcoma but on further investigation it was Lymphoma. Lymphoma can have a good recovery rate. My dog got Lymphoma at 2 years of age, she was not given a good prognosis. I got radon seed treatment done and she went into remission and lived till she was 11 years of age and died of something unrelated to the lymphoma. Have another talk to the vet and make sure which it is (you posted Lymphoma on the title). If it is Lymphoma you may be able to do something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birni Posted March 5, 2005 Author Share Posted March 5, 2005 Hi all, thank you so much for your replies.... it's amazing how important you all become so quickly and I really thank you all for your replies because even a quick acknowledgement means so much!! Since diagnosis I have really been throwing in extra cuddles and acknowleding all the time Kiya and I get to spend together... even yakking on the phone I find I make a point of sitting outside with him for the company rather than inside (bloody chilly - I think winter is arriving early!!). It's funny "sad" thought how (human and pet alike) it often takes a drastic dianostis to acknoledged the short time we may have! And how rewarding the time may have! My vet has said that lymphosarcoma and lymphoma are the same thing but you have questioned it?? I have not found anything to find otherwise... can otherwise help here? Can anyone tell me of the side effects of using coritsone? I know it is not good as a long term medication (but then again cancer is not a long term thing either) but I don't know what to expect or what I could do to help counteract. i.e. i know it has only been a week and althought I haven't been back to the vet I notice a huge reduction in the size and feel of lump, as well as a huge change in drinking and eating (and toilet), this all is positive... what other negative's is it having on my fur baby's body? Tomorrow I start his reduction on macrolone tabs so anything in particular i should look for? Thankyou, 'scales of justice', 'miranda', and 'imashephed'.... ur messages mean a lot to me and I really appreciate the effort and time u took to write them. Although I haven't had to experience such a loss as no time for that one last kiss on the nose I sooooo feel for you! In my losses over the last months I have in the very least had some time, however small it seemed to "prepare" for it and have very much treasured the angels have allowed for that last kiss... I don't know what has happened in your past experiences but if you are up to tell me i am happy to read.... I will cry but it all helps and regardless i really appreciate your support .x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rozzie Posted March 5, 2005 Share Posted March 5, 2005 Hi birni I lost my Shepherd girl a few years ago to Lymphoma. The vet gave her six months at the most. We had her for a month after the disgnosis. It was a shock diagnosis as she had been so well. then all of a sudden a couple of smallish lumps appeared in several glands. It is a horrible disease. We counted our blessings for each day she woke 'OK'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bommy Posted March 5, 2005 Share Posted March 5, 2005 Hi Birni I agree it definitely depends on what sort of cancer it is. We at the moment are going through this with our 7yrold boxer molly. Are they cutting out the lump totest it? If they are it is also very worthwhile to pay the extra to find out if it is hystacidic or lymphatic cancer that you are dealing with and to get that tested for at the start. I have a link running called neospora & molly, she started out with the neospora & then when testing for that we found that she also had the lymphatic camcer. In that thread i hve been given alot of really good advice re diet & that has helped us immensley we were given 3mths in January & Molly, bless her soul is running around & looking better now than she did in December. We have this week started chemo using Lomustine (80mg) every 3 weeks for 3 treatments & then 6 weekly as well as pred daily. The first prescription was $260.00 for the lumostine but then subsequent treatments will be $130.00 as they are repeats. I know how you feel we lost our first big boy in June last year to an internal lymphosarcoma that burst & then Molly got sick & I felt that my life was a total mess, after all what did I do to deserve to lose 2 dogs in 6ths to cancer... well we know that the cancer isnt going to be completely beaten, but the chemo (which is having a really good effect on Molly & isnt making her sick like it does humans) is giving her back the quality of life she needs & letting us enjoy her & love her for a bit longer. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR DECISIONS Jacqui Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest scouser Posted March 5, 2005 Share Posted March 5, 2005 I lost my 6 year old BCX Amber to lympho sarcoma this time last year - she was given 3 months and the vet suggested chemo but said it would only work once and then the cancer would come back and there would be no treatment. After talking to some people who had been through it I decided on homeopathic treatment - did not cure the cancer but she was pain free and running around until the last week when her quality of life took a sudden dive. She died 6 weeks after the diagnosis. It was very hard and I miss her terribly - good luck with whatever you decide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scales of Justice Posted March 7, 2005 Share Posted March 7, 2005 (edited) birni, On two posts now regarding lymphoma I have posted my experience in actually saving my dog from lymphoma with radon seed treatment. If chemo isn't an option and you want to save your dog why don't you make some enquiries regarding radon seed treatment? It involves finding a vet who handles radioactive materials (specialist vet), I don't know whether they still do this but when I had it done the vet shoots radioactive seeds into the affected area and you have to stay away from the dog for 24-48 hours only giving food and water - no other contact - until the radon seeds are dispersed (until seeds reach their radioactive half life). This radiation saved my dog who lived another 9 years after treatment. This apparently is a good way to arrest the malignancy. (no side effects whatsoever). If you are interested I will make some enquiries where I had mine done to see whether they still do it or if they know of someone in your area. Edited March 7, 2005 by Scales of Justice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trifecta Posted March 7, 2005 Share Posted March 7, 2005 Birni, my heart goes out to you. My old girl, BSD x Border Collie was diagnosed with lymphoma 3 weeks ago. However, my dog is 14 years old, she has had a full & happy life after being rescued from the Queanbeyan pound with her litter sister at 5 months of age. Your dog should still have many years in front of her, you must feel terribly cheated. Belle, too, is on macrolone tablets. They have made a huge difference to her wellness, but she is always ravenous... always looking for food. She is now the skinny one, whereas she has always been the fatter of the two girls! I put this down to the cancer cells dividing rapidly; they take all the nutrients & render her so tired, she has little energy. Fortunately we have not experienced the bloating & urinary incontinence that cortisone can cause. Chemo is not an option for me. I don't know how people can say that chemo does not have the same effects on animals that it does on people. Chemo kills healthy cells as well as cancerous ones - it has to have an effect. While working as a vet nurse I too remember remarking that most patients only usually had one or two treatments of chemo & on rare occasions, three. I expect Belle to be with us for around 6-8 weeks, although the prednisone can carry them for 9 months or more, as someone above has posted. My quandary will be the predicament of her sister... they have been together for 14 years. Bijou is a little deaf & her eyesight is beginning to fail. She is also somewhat arthritic. My head tells me that I should have them both put to sleep together, so that they will not make the journey to rainbow bridge alone; but I don't know if I have the strength to do this. I only hope my heart lets me do the right thing when the time comes. ;) ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivia Posted March 7, 2005 Share Posted March 7, 2005 I'm so sorry to read your sad news. I lost my GSD X 4 years ago to Lymphoma. Like you, I took her to a vet, because she "just wasn't right" the vet checked her out and put her on an arthritis treatment (she was 12). About 3 weeks later she still wasn't right and seemed to have a sore throat, so I took her to another vet that I had a lot of confidence in he diagnosed her with lymphoma and suggested that it was probably too far advanced to treat effectively. We put her on a cortisone treatment which picked her up for a couple of days, I had about another week with her, which I'm very grateful gave me time to do all the things she loved one last time. Before she went to the Rainbow Bridge on a lovely spring afternoon. Good luck, my thoughts are with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birni Posted March 7, 2005 Author Share Posted March 7, 2005 Hi again and thanks for all your replies... As I'm reading your replies this week, and particularly where a couple of people have lost their fur children after only weeks, I started counting our blessings that we have had a positive week. Kiya is eating ravenously (which I know is the cortisone but after the time of turning his nose up miserably at everything I tried eating makes us both feel better!). But it also brings home that six weeks (as in some of your cases) is sooo short and the importance of making our every minute count. The other nice thing that comes as a mini "shock" every time is seeing someone from Canberra area - the last time I was involved in one of these forums it was US based so knowing that you are all taking the time to send your kind thoughts so locally is strengthening. Trifecta - I feel for you in making a "double" decision. I have confidence in the fact that we do know when the time has come. We agonise about whether we should or shouldn't (and in your case whether your darlings walk the bridge together) and everything in between but trust yourself - your heart will let you do what you need to because you love them. Scales of J. - thankyou for your suggestion. I haven't heard of radon seeds and have to admit although I want the best for Kiya it doesn't sound pleasant The main obstacle for chemo is $ and I assume that radon would also be very expensive? Again - thank you all for your care. I will keep you up to date.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fido Posted March 9, 2005 Share Posted March 9, 2005 Just a little note to say I am thinking of you and your loved fur kid. One of my dogs has had 2 cancerous lumps removed from one of her legs.....you just never know what the future holds. :D Hang in there. :D ....Fido Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest deeadora Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 Hi all, I just recieved some devastating news on Monday March 28,2005. My six year old Rottweiler Breezai was diagnosed with Lymphosarcoma. I have been on the internet searching about this disease like crazy and I am sad to say I haven't found any uplifting news. I have read pretty much all the replies on this discussion board and I am at that point I really don't know what to do. Financially I can't afford the chemo treatments. I would love to help my beloved pup as long as I can but I don't want her to suffer at all. I already had to lay my beautiful grey tabbey Zagz down in November of last year and at this point I cannot believe I am losing two of my beautiful pets within 5 months of each other and they grew up together. It was also devastating for my son when we had to put Zagz to sleep and now I have to tell him again he may lose another one of his friends. Can anyone offer me some suggestions or guidance on this matter it would most greatly be appreciated. The vet currently has her on Predisone and I am to take her Friday to an Onocologist for further information on what can be done. She had a needle aspirate conducted and a biopsy done but no x-rays. Should I have gotten x-rays done also? Please help. Thank you deeadora a distraught animal lover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birni Posted May 17, 2005 Author Share Posted May 17, 2005 Hi all! Thought I would pass you on an update! Next week, the 26th May, will be 3 months since Kiya's diagnosis. At that time the vet gave him 3 months so you can imagine how blessed I am feeling to still have my fur baby! "Deeadora" I was sorry to hear your recent diagnosis and I hope that things have progressed positively for you. I don't know if I can be of any help but please feel free to ask... Kiya has been on Macrolone since 26 Feb. We started him on 2 tabs twice daily and over time weaned him back to 2 tabs alternate mornings. It's my understanding that the reason we do this, rather than 1 tab daily, is to give the cancer a lesser chance of building immunity (which it will eventually). This worked well until about three weeks ago when we had to bump them right up and start again. After Easter I had two stints away for business (and hated it) so he had to go to the kennels. The first time he came home with kennel cough. I was unimpressed however I also know that with so many strains of KC the vaccine doesn't protect against all, and also that we are talking about a dog whose immune system we are suppressing (with the cortisone). So, of course he will pick up anything! The second stint was a longer one and this is when his lump came back and he was off his food again. Going back to the large cortisone dose fixed it and we have weaned him back to 2 tabs daily, about to try the alternate days again though I admit that I am trepidicious as I look at the calender. Since diagnosis I have also been adding 1/2 teaspoon of slippery elm powder to his evening meal as many of the holistic cancer treatments include this. From tomorrow I am also going to add fish oil and Vit B complex. It may help, it may not but I figure we have nothing to lose now. Lots of spoiling also!! Because of his low immunity I have also been rugging him since March as I figure his body is better off using the energy to fight "bad stuff" than fighting to stay warm. The flies are still bothering him, particularly his ears, and nothing we have tried has worked. One ear is badly fly bitten. I have also noticed that he has a few spots on his legs where he has been biting himself so he must be itchy. He has drawn blood and made them quite raw and sore looking. I don't know what the story is here - whether it is the flies, the medication or just the illness (being an immunity issue and skin probs often go alongside). Can anyone help with this? I am treating them simply by antiseptic cream in evenings and repel x mornings at the vet suggestion.... Thankyou all for your support and send your angels, light a candle, say your prayers or simply cross your fingers for us that we can stay on top of this for even longer p.s. Don't be mistaken, the lump is still there and a constant reminder that we don't have forever... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ish Posted May 17, 2005 Share Posted May 17, 2005 Its great news that Kiya is going well, fantastic news infact When my GSD Bailey was getting very badly bitten by flies, I tried heaps of different treatments to no avail. Eventually found relief with fly spray for horses, used a few that all worked well, so maybe drop into your local Horseland or something and see what you find. Good luck and I hope in three more months the news is still as good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haven Posted May 17, 2005 Share Posted May 17, 2005 Birni, I'm very sorry to hear about your dog. I know a woman whose dog had cancer and was told she only had a few months also. She didn't accept this and after much (and I mean MUCH) research, treated her dog using natural therapies. It's been 2 or 3 years now I think. Her vet actually refers all his cancer patients to her now. I'd like to give you her contact number but I wouldn't feel right without asking her permission first. I'll call her tomorrow and get back to you. In the mean time All the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jed Posted May 17, 2005 Share Posted May 17, 2005 I feel for both of you - and will cross my fingers for these dogs. I think Haven's suggestion about natural therapies is a very good one. They do seem to help. I have heard that glyconutrients are helpful .. I don't know much about them, but there is a website www.glycoscience.com though I fear they may be quite expensive. I know of a couple of dogs with cancer who did very well on them - sorry, not sure what sort of cancer, or anything else much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted May 17, 2005 Share Posted May 17, 2005 Yep Id try the glyconutrients There's loads of great research coming out now about them. The cheapest andeasiest way to give them is to feed Aloe Vera Juice Its the highest of the glyconutrients . http://www.afpafitness.com/articles/AnimalvsVegetable.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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