-My Sophie was recently diagnosed with a nasal carcinoma. It has just completely turned my life upside down - its like I'm like living day to day. I don't have any children...and its not exactly like Sophie is a substitute for raising kids...but she is a wonderful dog and I love her like crazy. I'll pretty much do everything possible to treat her as long as she isn't in pain.
The thing is I feel a tremendous amount of guilt about the whole thing. See...three months ago, I woke up and Sophie (who has her bed next to mine) was bleeding heavily from her nose. I scooped her up and rushed her to the doctors (by the time we got there the bleeding had stopped.) The doctor examined her, found nothing in her nose (no mass) and nothing abnormal on her complete bloodwork panel. the Dr. said to watch for more bleeding, otherwise she seemed ok. For three months Sophie had what I now know to be symptoms of the tumor, particularly loud snoring at night. But she is 11, I never imagined after the Drs. visit anything was really wrong.
Then one Saturday, she seemed a little off. She was sneezing a bit and didn't want to play at the dog park. I though she simply had a cold. By Sunday night she was burning up and the deformity appeared on her nose. she also had more sporadic bleeding from her one nostril - but not as bad as that first time. I pretty much figured at this point the mass could be cancer. I rushed her to the vet first thing Monday morning where they suspected cancer as well. They did xrays and it hadn't spread to her lungs.
After a couple tries at biopsies and a CT scan, we know its extensive but hopefully we can confirm it hasn't invaded her eye or brain yet (we are waiting for the final CT report.) If this is the case, we can do a full round of radiation (which has an average survival of 12-15 months.) BUT, while getting her oncology workup she had an ultrasound, the oncologist also felt a mass in her abdomen (right next to her rib cage.) Apparently it was all old and mineralized, and the biopsy was inconclusive but because it looked to the doctor on the ultrasound that it had been there a while and therefore must benign. If we opt for the full radiation, the oncologist is insisting on removing the old benign mass first. Our other option is a more palliative radiation treatment to keep the tumor from growing and keep her comfortable until the cancer takes her. Right now she seems SO much better than she was the Sunday night before I took her to the vet. She hasn't had any bleeding. she's been on pain meds..as there is bone destruction in her nose. She's also had a round of antibiotics for what looked like an in fection around the deformity poking through the bone. She is eating well, is energetic, loving...she seems like she is doing quite well right now.
I just can't believe it took me three months to realize she had a tumor! What was I thinking letting a massive nosebleed go? How did I not feel a giant mass in her belly? What was I thinking? I pet her and play with her all the time. How did I not feel it? I feel like if it weren't for me being dumb, the tumor wouldn't have grown so big. Depending on the final CT report, she may not even be a good candidate for full treatment. I feel like this is all my fault. I feel SO guilty.
I also keep thinking back on her life...there were a few years in the middle where I felt like I ignored her too much. I was working on my career, I came home.late...we had short walks and only really went to the park on weekends. In the past couple years I've tried to rectify my selfishness by getting her to daily playgroups while I was at work...and I've since been able to work at home a lot. We were also able to go on an awesome camping trip last fall for the first time in almost 3 years.
I don't know. I love her. How do I know I'm doing the right thing for her? I'm just so overwhelmed right now. I'm willing to do anything to make her better, but is a surgery and radiation too much? Will the anesthesia be too much for her? The oncologist said he would wholly support agressive treatment if the CT report shows the tumor hasn't crossed to her brain. He said he'd also support a palliatve treatment. Where is the line between helping her and being selfish? I don't want her in any pain.
Sorry this is so long. I feel lost. Any advice anyone can give...particularly if you've made these choices...please give me some input. Thanks in advance!
Full Version: My Sweet Sophie
Hi, Sophiedog, please permit me to offer you my sincerest condolences to you and your precious Sophie on this time of Anticipatory Grief. I do understand how difficult this time is for you, and how precious every moment of every day is for you and Sophie to share together.
Please try to understand that "not knowing" is NOT neglect. Even your vet was unable to determine at first the nature of your precious Sophie's nose bleed. Cancer is a very insidious disease - - and the symptoms can be very vague at first which delays a definitive diagnosis. Your vet ran all of the standard tests to "rule out" many potential causes, and gave you the very best advice he could. Unfortunately, it is typically only after the symptoms become more pronounced that a definitive diagnosis can be made. So, PLEASE do NOT blame yourself.
When it comes to making a decision of treatment you will make the right decision for your precious Sophie. When my beautiful baby girl Abbygayle (see Abbygayle's Journey if you'd like) was diagnosed with End Stage Fibrosarcoma in July 2009 I was adamant that she would not undergo chemo or radiation. The only other option left was surgery to remove the tumors as they grew back. The cancer was very aggressive and after each surgery the tumors grew back within weeks. After the third surgery there wasn't anything more that could be done except to keep her happy and comfortable until it was time to send her home to the angels. This was a different treatment plan than what my number one kitty son, Eli, underwent in 2006 when he was diagnosed with End Stage Lymphoma. He did go the route of palliative chemotherapy, but his immune system was so weakened that he acquired an infection which landed him in intensive care and after a weekend of being home proved that it was time to let him go home to the angels. When my handsome Oslo (see my topic on Oslo if you'd like) was diagnosed with Laryngeal Paralysis, I opted for him NOT to have surgery because he had some other medical issues and was a "senior" citizen. I did not want him to undergo that extensive surgery which had a very uncertain outcome. He lived for three years post-diagnosis.
So, you see, Sophiedog, there really are no "wrong" decisions. Each decision must be based on the facts that we have at the time and what we know in our hearts what our precious beloved companions can endure.
So, when you speak with the oncologist get as many facts as you possibly can. If surgery is still an option, what will be the procedure? How invasive will it be? What procedures for pain management will be in place post-op? What will be the recovery? What are the risks to having the surgery as opposed to comfort measures? Go online and do research. Only after you have the FACTS can you then make the best INFORMED DECISION you can for your precious Sophie. Follow your heart, Sophiedog - - - you can't go wrong.
As to your neglecting your precious girl - - so UNTRUE. Our beloved companions have an ENORMOUS ability to adjust to our lives and our schedules - - without complaint and without any feelings of being "neglected" - - BECAUSE they know we love them. And this is SO OBVIOUS in your sharing with us about your precious Sophie and what you would do for her. Each of us here knows that you would move heaven and earth, walk over hot roiling lava or burning coals to give your precious Sophie a happy and healthy earthly journey with you.
Ths very sad part is that our beloved companions' physical bodies are not designed for immortality on this side of eternity. And when they do become very ill - - critically - - or suffer a severe trauma - - modern veterinary medicine can only do just so much until it is time that we - - as their caregivers - - must make the hardest decision we will ever make - - at great sacrifice to ourselves - - so that our beloved companions can be released from their failing, painful physical bodies and restored to their former youthfulness in the company of the angels.
One of the many important things for you to remember is that you and your precious Sophie are NOT alone during this time - - NEVER EVER NEVER alone. You are among friends here who truly do understand what you are feeling and what you are going through, and we are here for you, with you, and beside with every step you and your precious Sophie take.
Sophiedog, I can only hope that what I have shared with you will be of some comfort and encouragement to you. Please know you and your precious Sophie are in my thoughts and prayers, and look forward to knowing how you both are doing.
Peace and blessings,
moon_beam
Please try to understand that "not knowing" is NOT neglect. Even your vet was unable to determine at first the nature of your precious Sophie's nose bleed. Cancer is a very insidious disease - - and the symptoms can be very vague at first which delays a definitive diagnosis. Your vet ran all of the standard tests to "rule out" many potential causes, and gave you the very best advice he could. Unfortunately, it is typically only after the symptoms become more pronounced that a definitive diagnosis can be made. So, PLEASE do NOT blame yourself.
When it comes to making a decision of treatment you will make the right decision for your precious Sophie. When my beautiful baby girl Abbygayle (see Abbygayle's Journey if you'd like) was diagnosed with End Stage Fibrosarcoma in July 2009 I was adamant that she would not undergo chemo or radiation. The only other option left was surgery to remove the tumors as they grew back. The cancer was very aggressive and after each surgery the tumors grew back within weeks. After the third surgery there wasn't anything more that could be done except to keep her happy and comfortable until it was time to send her home to the angels. This was a different treatment plan than what my number one kitty son, Eli, underwent in 2006 when he was diagnosed with End Stage Lymphoma. He did go the route of palliative chemotherapy, but his immune system was so weakened that he acquired an infection which landed him in intensive care and after a weekend of being home proved that it was time to let him go home to the angels. When my handsome Oslo (see my topic on Oslo if you'd like) was diagnosed with Laryngeal Paralysis, I opted for him NOT to have surgery because he had some other medical issues and was a "senior" citizen. I did not want him to undergo that extensive surgery which had a very uncertain outcome. He lived for three years post-diagnosis.
So, you see, Sophiedog, there really are no "wrong" decisions. Each decision must be based on the facts that we have at the time and what we know in our hearts what our precious beloved companions can endure.
So, when you speak with the oncologist get as many facts as you possibly can. If surgery is still an option, what will be the procedure? How invasive will it be? What procedures for pain management will be in place post-op? What will be the recovery? What are the risks to having the surgery as opposed to comfort measures? Go online and do research. Only after you have the FACTS can you then make the best INFORMED DECISION you can for your precious Sophie. Follow your heart, Sophiedog - - - you can't go wrong.
As to your neglecting your precious girl - - so UNTRUE. Our beloved companions have an ENORMOUS ability to adjust to our lives and our schedules - - without complaint and without any feelings of being "neglected" - - BECAUSE they know we love them. And this is SO OBVIOUS in your sharing with us about your precious Sophie and what you would do for her. Each of us here knows that you would move heaven and earth, walk over hot roiling lava or burning coals to give your precious Sophie a happy and healthy earthly journey with you.
Ths very sad part is that our beloved companions' physical bodies are not designed for immortality on this side of eternity. And when they do become very ill - - critically - - or suffer a severe trauma - - modern veterinary medicine can only do just so much until it is time that we - - as their caregivers - - must make the hardest decision we will ever make - - at great sacrifice to ourselves - - so that our beloved companions can be released from their failing, painful physical bodies and restored to their former youthfulness in the company of the angels.
One of the many important things for you to remember is that you and your precious Sophie are NOT alone during this time - - NEVER EVER NEVER alone. You are among friends here who truly do understand what you are feeling and what you are going through, and we are here for you, with you, and beside with every step you and your precious Sophie take.
Sophiedog, I can only hope that what I have shared with you will be of some comfort and encouragement to you. Please know you and your precious Sophie are in my thoughts and prayers, and look forward to knowing how you both are doing.
Peace and blessings,
moon_beam
Moon_Beam - thank you so so much for your kind words! They mean SO much to me right now, you have no idea.
I read your posts on Abby and Oslo. My heart breaks for all the pain you have gone through and the for the hole that will always be there, that part thay will always belong to your companions. But I also rejoice for all the unconditional love you so obviously shared with them in your time together. I think sometimes that we who know how to give and recieve this kind of devotional love are the luckiest people on the planet. No matter what happpens, the experience of this love is somehow beyond friendship...even beyond family...and the bond is so deep in one's bones - thay we are better and kinder people forever for having felt this love.
As I type this, I'm up...unable to sleep. I elected to put my Sophie through surgery for both the nasal tumor and the abdominal mass. It is scheduled for 7:30 AM tomorrow. To minimize anesthesia, they are doing both procedures at once. From the imaging info we have, the surgeon hopes both will be uneventful. And right now - the mass in her nose has not crossed into the brain. Once it does, the prognosis changes drastically and we would only be left with palliative treatment. Right now if we can scoop out the tumor,reconstruct the nose and then do a round of radiation - she has an excellent chance of a 2 yr survival time, meaning at her age it could be basically curative. It gonna be a kind of crappy month for her....but the vets have told me that dogs don't do poorly with this type of treatment. With good pain management and nursing, she could realistically be playing fetch by early August. Of course there's also the real possibility she could not make it through tomorrow too.
I had a difficult time making such a big decision so quickly. We agonized for a couple days really and decided - lets give her the chance to fight it. If we see she is losing, we can slow down or stop and move toward keeping her comfortable.I don't know 100% what the right thing is to do. But I can see in her eyes and know 100% that she trusts me to decide for her.
Sophie has always been a survivor. I got her when I was young and struggling to just enter the world myself. My friend called and told me a dog down the road from her house just had puppies. This poor dog lived with a bad family. So the puppies were going to be drowned. My friend was given the opportunity to find the puppies homes. She could not have a dog at her house because her cats would not have been comfortable. So she begged me to at least foster one puppy until she could find them real homes. As it turned out, she only got two puppies into foster homes and the rest were killed. She would have come back for the rest and got them to a shelter,but the mom's bad family didn't wait and didn't tell her.
I remember going to pick up the puppy. I made a bed out of a cardboard box. When I got there the puppy sat quietly by herself under the table. She was just 6 weeks old. I picked her up and placed her into the cardboard bed on the front seat of my truck. As we drove I started talking to her....asking her what her name was. She regarded me and I regarded her for about a half hours worth of driving. She was pretty much still the whole time. I didnt know much about puppies but thought it odd at the time - I guessed maybe she was the runt or something. Then she crawled out of the cardboard bed and over to me. She laid down with her head on my leg...paws draped over me. And she sighed. It was as if she was saying...its ok. We found eachother and I am home now. I pretty much knew this wasn't going to be a foster situation. She became mine and I became hers the night I met her.
We had some hard times those first few years. I learned a lot and she did too. We moved to find work and as hard as it is to move to the city and find a place where your dog can stay with you...I never once thought about giving her up. I knew a lot of people my age at that time that became seperated from their dogs by life. With dog parks and beaches,doggie day care and playgroups..we made it work. We then met my now husband (who adopted her as his own without a second thought) and he came with a camp on a lake upstate. Over the years Sophie became an excellent fisherman! She was a very good trail dog too. We slept in the same bed until right when she turned 9 and couldn't jump up anymore. Now she has a soft donut bed next to mine..sometimes we reach out and pet eachother during the night....just to make sure we are both still there!
The last couple years have been good to us, even if we had some hard years in the middle. From 07-09 were bad years with unemployment and then bad employment and the stress and depression that goes with that - but we pulled through. In 09 we got a place in the city with a real backyard! I planted grass for Sophie to roll in. There are squirrels for her to chase. Sometimes her dog friends Lulu and Ruggles come over. We go on walks every day..long ones in the park on weekends. Three days a week she goes out with her playgroup. But we always cuddle on the couch at night.
She had to fight to find me. I want to give her a chance to fight to stay with me. I love her. I want to do what's best for her. If we see she can't do this...we will say goodbye. But I want to give her at least a chance. I'm watching her sleep now at my feet. We're getting ready for tomorrow. Please just let her get through this ok.
I read your posts on Abby and Oslo. My heart breaks for all the pain you have gone through and the for the hole that will always be there, that part thay will always belong to your companions. But I also rejoice for all the unconditional love you so obviously shared with them in your time together. I think sometimes that we who know how to give and recieve this kind of devotional love are the luckiest people on the planet. No matter what happpens, the experience of this love is somehow beyond friendship...even beyond family...and the bond is so deep in one's bones - thay we are better and kinder people forever for having felt this love.
As I type this, I'm up...unable to sleep. I elected to put my Sophie through surgery for both the nasal tumor and the abdominal mass. It is scheduled for 7:30 AM tomorrow. To minimize anesthesia, they are doing both procedures at once. From the imaging info we have, the surgeon hopes both will be uneventful. And right now - the mass in her nose has not crossed into the brain. Once it does, the prognosis changes drastically and we would only be left with palliative treatment. Right now if we can scoop out the tumor,reconstruct the nose and then do a round of radiation - she has an excellent chance of a 2 yr survival time, meaning at her age it could be basically curative. It gonna be a kind of crappy month for her....but the vets have told me that dogs don't do poorly with this type of treatment. With good pain management and nursing, she could realistically be playing fetch by early August. Of course there's also the real possibility she could not make it through tomorrow too.
I had a difficult time making such a big decision so quickly. We agonized for a couple days really and decided - lets give her the chance to fight it. If we see she is losing, we can slow down or stop and move toward keeping her comfortable.I don't know 100% what the right thing is to do. But I can see in her eyes and know 100% that she trusts me to decide for her.
Sophie has always been a survivor. I got her when I was young and struggling to just enter the world myself. My friend called and told me a dog down the road from her house just had puppies. This poor dog lived with a bad family. So the puppies were going to be drowned. My friend was given the opportunity to find the puppies homes. She could not have a dog at her house because her cats would not have been comfortable. So she begged me to at least foster one puppy until she could find them real homes. As it turned out, she only got two puppies into foster homes and the rest were killed. She would have come back for the rest and got them to a shelter,but the mom's bad family didn't wait and didn't tell her.
I remember going to pick up the puppy. I made a bed out of a cardboard box. When I got there the puppy sat quietly by herself under the table. She was just 6 weeks old. I picked her up and placed her into the cardboard bed on the front seat of my truck. As we drove I started talking to her....asking her what her name was. She regarded me and I regarded her for about a half hours worth of driving. She was pretty much still the whole time. I didnt know much about puppies but thought it odd at the time - I guessed maybe she was the runt or something. Then she crawled out of the cardboard bed and over to me. She laid down with her head on my leg...paws draped over me. And she sighed. It was as if she was saying...its ok. We found eachother and I am home now. I pretty much knew this wasn't going to be a foster situation. She became mine and I became hers the night I met her.
We had some hard times those first few years. I learned a lot and she did too. We moved to find work and as hard as it is to move to the city and find a place where your dog can stay with you...I never once thought about giving her up. I knew a lot of people my age at that time that became seperated from their dogs by life. With dog parks and beaches,doggie day care and playgroups..we made it work. We then met my now husband (who adopted her as his own without a second thought) and he came with a camp on a lake upstate. Over the years Sophie became an excellent fisherman! She was a very good trail dog too. We slept in the same bed until right when she turned 9 and couldn't jump up anymore. Now she has a soft donut bed next to mine..sometimes we reach out and pet eachother during the night....just to make sure we are both still there!
The last couple years have been good to us, even if we had some hard years in the middle. From 07-09 were bad years with unemployment and then bad employment and the stress and depression that goes with that - but we pulled through. In 09 we got a place in the city with a real backyard! I planted grass for Sophie to roll in. There are squirrels for her to chase. Sometimes her dog friends Lulu and Ruggles come over. We go on walks every day..long ones in the park on weekends. Three days a week she goes out with her playgroup. But we always cuddle on the couch at night.
She had to fight to find me. I want to give her a chance to fight to stay with me. I love her. I want to do what's best for her. If we see she can't do this...we will say goodbye. But I want to give her at least a chance. I'm watching her sleep now at my feet. We're getting ready for tomorrow. Please just let her get through this ok.
Dear Sophiedog
I add my prayers and good wishes for you and your precious Sophie for her operation and treatment. I am sure that with your vets advice you have made the right decision to give your little girl every chance. I will be thinking of you all.
Hugs
Jan and my Angels and Pixie xx
I add my prayers and good wishes for you and your precious Sophie for her operation and treatment. I am sure that with your vets advice you have made the right decision to give your little girl every chance. I will be thinking of you all.
Hugs
Jan and my Angels and Pixie xx
Well the good news is she made it through her operation with flying colors! She was up and about in less than 24 hours and the surgeon just called and said she jumped in his lap today while he was trying to check her over. Then she kissed him. Ha ha. That's my little monkey. She's gotta weasel her way right into everyone's heart. They said they are going to miss her but after 3 PM I can come get her and bring her home! Yeah!
They excised the tumor before it crossed into the brain. But this just buys her time. It will grow back ans we don't know how quick.but at least they can send the sample off to the lab and get a real handle on what kind of cells we are looking at. We haven't had a real definative biopsy yet so we will be glad to finally find some answers. When she has recovered, and if the doctors still think she is a good candidate - we can do a round of radiation and see what happens.
I'm so excited to see my little buddy today. I'm washing all her things like bed and pilloe and getting tthe house ready forher. Thank you for the well wishes. Hopefully more good luck will follow and her prognosis will keep getting better. Thanks for reading this!
They excised the tumor before it crossed into the brain. But this just buys her time. It will grow back ans we don't know how quick.but at least they can send the sample off to the lab and get a real handle on what kind of cells we are looking at. We haven't had a real definative biopsy yet so we will be glad to finally find some answers. When she has recovered, and if the doctors still think she is a good candidate - we can do a round of radiation and see what happens.
I'm so excited to see my little buddy today. I'm washing all her things like bed and pilloe and getting tthe house ready forher. Thank you for the well wishes. Hopefully more good luck will follow and her prognosis will keep getting better. Thanks for reading this!
Hi, Sophiedog, thank you so very, very much for sharing your wonderful news about Sophie's successful surgery. I'm just now being able to get caught up on all the posts - - have been dealing with new compouter "issues" for the last few days which has not been fun at all.
I am so very THRILLED that your precious Sophie came through the surgery so successfully, and that she is now home with you recovering. Please, please do let us know the results of the pathology report on the tumor(s) and what the vet recommends, how you feel about it, etc..
I hope reading my threads on Olso and Abbygayle were able to give you some encouragement in your journey with Sophie. I thank you so very much for sharing your earthly journey with your precoius Sophie with us. Isn't it amazing how they become a very real part of us - - sometines immediately, sometimes more softly through sharing the day to day routines. I hope and pray with all my heart that you and your precious Sophie will have many more glorious hours, days, weeks, months, years to share together - - each moment savored like a precious jewel.
Sophiedog, I hope today is treating you and your precious Sophie kindly. Please know that even though I may be temporarily unable to respond to your posts that you and your precious Sophie are in my thoughts and prayers, and I look forward to knowing how you and your precious girl are doing.
Peace and blessings,
moon_beam
I am so very THRILLED that your precious Sophie came through the surgery so successfully, and that she is now home with you recovering. Please, please do let us know the results of the pathology report on the tumor(s) and what the vet recommends, how you feel about it, etc..
I hope reading my threads on Olso and Abbygayle were able to give you some encouragement in your journey with Sophie. I thank you so very much for sharing your earthly journey with your precoius Sophie with us. Isn't it amazing how they become a very real part of us - - sometines immediately, sometimes more softly through sharing the day to day routines. I hope and pray with all my heart that you and your precious Sophie will have many more glorious hours, days, weeks, months, years to share together - - each moment savored like a precious jewel.
Sophiedog, I hope today is treating you and your precious Sophie kindly. Please know that even though I may be temporarily unable to respond to your posts that you and your precious Sophie are in my thoughts and prayers, and I look forward to knowing how you and your precious girl are doing.
Peace and blessings,
moon_beam
Hey there moon beam,
Just a quick update...got all the labs back. It looks like a undifferentiated sarcoma not a carcinoma as we had suspected. The oncologist was worried about that. But it also came back as having a low mitotic rate so its not particulalry invasive. He wants to go ahead with definative radiation starting tomorrow.
I decided to do it because every other test including the lliver biopsy came back great. She's so healthy and full of life except for this tumor. Since the antibiotics for the secondary infection due to the tumor destroying some bone, and an NSAId she is tolerating well...its like I have my puppy back! She also not heavily symptomatic...so we're looking more for remission rather than symptom resolution with the tumor. They think another year to two of excellent quality of life is very much realistic. The tumor will eventually come back they say...but for now we will go for it. 16 days of treatment in a row. After that we are giving her three to four weeeks recovery time and will then take her on a camping trip around labor day. Let her be a dog in the woods....we think it will help her feel better!
Anyway, wish us luck!
Thanks again for letting me read your stories and for volunteering your time to provide kind and comforting words. It is SO appreciated!
PS Oslo seemed like a great dog with an amazing human to love! He is so lucky he had you in his life!
Just a quick update...got all the labs back. It looks like a undifferentiated sarcoma not a carcinoma as we had suspected. The oncologist was worried about that. But it also came back as having a low mitotic rate so its not particulalry invasive. He wants to go ahead with definative radiation starting tomorrow.
I decided to do it because every other test including the lliver biopsy came back great. She's so healthy and full of life except for this tumor. Since the antibiotics for the secondary infection due to the tumor destroying some bone, and an NSAId she is tolerating well...its like I have my puppy back! She also not heavily symptomatic...so we're looking more for remission rather than symptom resolution with the tumor. They think another year to two of excellent quality of life is very much realistic. The tumor will eventually come back they say...but for now we will go for it. 16 days of treatment in a row. After that we are giving her three to four weeeks recovery time and will then take her on a camping trip around labor day. Let her be a dog in the woods....we think it will help her feel better!
Anyway, wish us luck!
Thanks again for letting me read your stories and for volunteering your time to provide kind and comforting words. It is SO appreciated!
PS Oslo seemed like a great dog with an amazing human to love! He is so lucky he had you in his life!
Hi, Sophiedog, just being able to get caught up on your post. I am so thriled at your news of the lab results, and I hope and pray that your precious Sophie will continue to respond well to the radiation treatments. Today will be day 2 in the treatment course. And I agree with you so much about the camping trip. Our beloved companions also need a change of pace to keep them emotionally happy and sound, and after all she's been through I can't think of anything better to enjoy with her family.
Sophiedog, please do let us know how your precious Sophie is doing with her treatments. Please know you and your precious Sophie are in my thoughts and prayers, and I look forward to knowing how life is going with the both of you.
Peace and blessings,
moon_beam
Sophiedog, please do let us know how your precious Sophie is doing with her treatments. Please know you and your precious Sophie are in my thoughts and prayers, and I look forward to knowing how life is going with the both of you.
Peace and blessings,
moon_beam
So sorry about Sophie. Give us an update.
Our sweet Pazuzu, an adorable 8-year old Shih Tzu, has recently been diagnosed with nasal cancer as well. He's undergoing radiation therapy, and has a reasonably good prognosis. But we are devastated. We love him so much, and we grieve for his discomfort.
I have written an essay in tribute to Pazuzu and his healthy and equally adorable "brother" (they're actually ten days apart in age, but from the same breeder). I'll try to upload it now.
Our sweet Pazuzu, an adorable 8-year old Shih Tzu, has recently been diagnosed with nasal cancer as well. He's undergoing radiation therapy, and has a reasonably good prognosis. But we are devastated. We love him so much, and we grieve for his discomfort.
I have written an essay in tribute to Pazuzu and his healthy and equally adorable "brother" (they're actually ten days apart in age, but from the same breeder). I'll try to upload it now.
Pazazu's Human - I'm so sorry for your diagnosis. This is one of the most difficult cancers to watch take over our pets because they effect the ability to breath and eat. The discomfort becomes so obvious.
I see you are treating him at AMC in New York City. I had Sophie treated in NYC too, but at the Veterinary Specialists on the west side. They were great, but AMC is top of the line. Your boy is in good hands.
So far I have only great things to report! Sophie had a little set back at the end of her treatment, she got an infection in her mouth due to her radiation burns on her tongue and gums. She had to spend the night in the hospital but within the first few doses of antibiotic, she perked right up. At the end of the treatments she was pretty tired from being put under every day and was sleeping all the time. Starting one week after treatments finished, the fur on her face began falling out and she had to wear the cone (e collar) to prevent her causing more injury to her face. It was a hard week and I felt bad for her, but we got through it.
She just had her last post radiation checkup on Friday. There's no physical sign of the tumor left, and the bone damaged has largely healed - thanks both to time and the reconstructive surgery she had before starting radiation. The radiation seems to be a very effective treatment. Although in your case with the invasion of the palate, it doesn't surprise me they are contemplating chemo as well. We were told that if there were any signs of invasion of the palate, that they would probably recommend a chemo ##tail. Sophie did get some burning and ulceration in her mouth from the radiation beam being focused on her nose. I would imagine that a direct radiation beam on a mouth tumor might cause too many side effects to be an effective treatment.
I think there will come a time where you will think to yourself "how/why did I put my dog through this?" There will be depressingly bad days. Just power through them and think - tomorrow will be better! Because if the radiation is working on the tumor, you will get to a point three weeks after he's done where you are seeing him breathe good and eat good and he'll be wagging his tail and kissing your face - and it will all be worth it! Sophie seems to be feeling better than she has in a long time. She must have had the tumor at least 8 -10 months before diagnosis. Its nice to see her get her energy back! So I have no regrets at all about the treatment and I'd do it again in a heartbeat!
I'm so glad he has a good post treatment prognosis. While average survival is 12-18 months, there are plenty of stories of dogs living 2 - 2 1/2 years post radiation! So while it may be hard at times, you guys will get through it. You'll be back to walks and fetch and belly rubs in no time!
I see you are treating him at AMC in New York City. I had Sophie treated in NYC too, but at the Veterinary Specialists on the west side. They were great, but AMC is top of the line. Your boy is in good hands.
So far I have only great things to report! Sophie had a little set back at the end of her treatment, she got an infection in her mouth due to her radiation burns on her tongue and gums. She had to spend the night in the hospital but within the first few doses of antibiotic, she perked right up. At the end of the treatments she was pretty tired from being put under every day and was sleeping all the time. Starting one week after treatments finished, the fur on her face began falling out and she had to wear the cone (e collar) to prevent her causing more injury to her face. It was a hard week and I felt bad for her, but we got through it.
She just had her last post radiation checkup on Friday. There's no physical sign of the tumor left, and the bone damaged has largely healed - thanks both to time and the reconstructive surgery she had before starting radiation. The radiation seems to be a very effective treatment. Although in your case with the invasion of the palate, it doesn't surprise me they are contemplating chemo as well. We were told that if there were any signs of invasion of the palate, that they would probably recommend a chemo ##tail. Sophie did get some burning and ulceration in her mouth from the radiation beam being focused on her nose. I would imagine that a direct radiation beam on a mouth tumor might cause too many side effects to be an effective treatment.
I think there will come a time where you will think to yourself "how/why did I put my dog through this?" There will be depressingly bad days. Just power through them and think - tomorrow will be better! Because if the radiation is working on the tumor, you will get to a point three weeks after he's done where you are seeing him breathe good and eat good and he'll be wagging his tail and kissing your face - and it will all be worth it! Sophie seems to be feeling better than she has in a long time. She must have had the tumor at least 8 -10 months before diagnosis. Its nice to see her get her energy back! So I have no regrets at all about the treatment and I'd do it again in a heartbeat!
I'm so glad he has a good post treatment prognosis. While average survival is 12-18 months, there are plenty of stories of dogs living 2 - 2 1/2 years post radiation! So while it may be hard at times, you guys will get through it. You'll be back to walks and fetch and belly rubs in no time!
Hi, Sophiedog, just getting caught up on your news, and SO THRILLED to know that your precious Sophie is doing so well. This is FANTASTIC!! Thank you so very much for sharing with us how you and your precious Sophie are doing. I hope and pray that you and your precious Sophie will have many, many, many - - MANY - - happy and healthy years together.
It is written somewhere something like: Today is now, yesterday is forgotten, and tomorrow is but a dream. Enjoy the NOW with your preciuos Sophie, as I know you are already doing. Each day is a precious gift with our furkids. Please know you and your precious Sophie are in my thoughts and prayers, and look forward to knowing how things are going for the both of you whenever possible.
Peace and blessings,
moon_beam
It is written somewhere something like: Today is now, yesterday is forgotten, and tomorrow is but a dream. Enjoy the NOW with your preciuos Sophie, as I know you are already doing. Each day is a precious gift with our furkids. Please know you and your precious Sophie are in my thoughts and prayers, and look forward to knowing how things are going for the both of you whenever possible.
Peace and blessings,
moon_beam
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