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Fight K9 cancer

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dog cancer support

Members: 32
Latest Activity: 6 hours ago

After losing our sweet Mouta (pictured here) on August 11, 2008 to cancer, my husband and I are still missing her terribly. She was diagnosed in February 2008 with a sarcoma in her spine. She was a trooper through the pre-diagnosis stage, when we initially thought she had a herniated disc in her spine, to the end. When aggressive steroid treatment only brought her from a stage 4 (almost no hind leg movement to a low stage 2...walking with assistance) we knew it was time for further testing. We drove 90 minutes away for her to have more test...a myelogram, which in turn led to surgery and the diagnosis of cancer. It was no doubt that we would pursue further treatment for her because out of the 4 pup-a-lups (my husband's term) she was our special baby...the calm in the eye of the storm, I always said. With the 4 dogs and cat, Mouta was always laid back and just really loved life. She was the ONLY one who could be off leash in the front yard and not run off 100% of the time! She LOVED being with us too much to venture off.

I did tons of research, talked to anyone who would listen, read everything I could find about cancer in dogs. And there's really not a lot of data out there. One of the deal makers for me when the subject of radiation treatments was discussed was that every question I asked about the success, the risk, the prognosis for Mouta was answered pretty much the same.."We don't know. There's not much data out there because most people opt for euthansia with the cancer diagnosis due to the cost of treatment." I felt that if by treating Mouta there was the slightest chance that we could have her in our lives a little longer and get her healthy again, it would be worth it. We had just bought a new house...I wanted new furniture, but you know, 'things' can wait...life can't. I still don't have the furniture, but we did have Mouta for 6 more months. We celebrated her 10th birthday with a cookout and I even baked a birthday cake for the dogs (you know there are lots of recipes online for homemade dog treats..even cakes!) When she finished her radiation treatments she was acting like a puppy again, not like the 10 year old that she was by then.

So, I started this group as a memorial to our Sharmouta. Anyone who has been through this, or who is facing this is welcome!

Discussion Forum

Holistic Veterinarians 1 Reply

Started by Lori Lotts. Last reply by Deborah 1 day ago.

National Canine Cancer Foundation

Started by Lynn Aug 18.

Lucky Dog (Excellent Story)

Started by Lynn Apr 24.

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Comment by Lynn 6 hours ago: Prayers going up for Gwen & Lucy. I still cringe when I hear ...sarcoma...any kind of sarcoma! It's awfully aggressive in canines & people!

Jack is also in my prayers that his check-ups continue to go well and he keeps getting a clean bill of health.

And as always Phoebe is in my prayers...along with Benson & Daisy

The prayer list grows longer...and goes up daily!

Comment by Kelly Meyer 23 hours ago: Thanks everyone, it is just so hard! I HATE cancer!

We just found a few more tiny lumps--today after her chemo, so I'm pretty down! I'm also pretty down because the 2nd oncologist (they've always been kind of tag teaming Phoebe's case) said these words while consulting with our regular oncologist, "Phoebe will never be free of these masses" as in even if Phoebe does go into remission again that they will always come back--it's just a matter of when! Makes it seem like the fighting will never be done--until it is DONE!

I know we're doing all that we can for her--we are all fighting so damn hard--especially Phoebe!

I'm praying a lot that these 10 days show significant decrease in her tumor size and that no more new ones come up; and that by taking her off the prednisone and putting her back on the Meticam that her knee will show some improvement too!

I'm also praying for Gwen and her Rottie Lucy; and for Jack that he gets another clean bill of health!

I'm going to go out and lay with Phoebe for a while and enjoy her snuggles.

Thanks for the encouraging words! It really helps in these down times!

Kelly

Comment by Jill Stout 1 day ago: We all know how you feel and how hard it is when a vet appointment is coming up. Jack is doing great---and with your hard work, Jack's attitude and God's grace, everything will be fine. Blessings.

Comment by Deborah 1 day ago: Thanks Jill....I feel so blessed to have made it this far with him, but these quarterly checkups make me so nervous to!! He continues to do great in all aspects so I'm very hopeful but its always worriesome cause you never really know what is going on inside.

Comment by Jill Stout 1 day ago: Prayers will go up for Jack too.

Comment by Deborah 1 day ago: Hope everything goes well Kelly. My Jack goes in Thursday afternoon for his 3 month check up/xray. He is at almost 10 months since we discovered his melanoma. Please send good wishes our way!!

Comment by Jill Stout 1 day ago: Hi all,
I just got a message from Gwen Haynes----her Rottie "Lucy" is fighting Osteosarcoma and not doing well. Lucy may let her know this week that it is time to cross the bridge. Please pray for Lucy and Gwen. I hate cancer.

Comment by Jill Stout 1 day ago: Kelly, you keep on fighting for Phoebe--we all understand and wish we could have fought longer with our fur kids. I know that Phoebe wouldn't want you to give up, and neither do any of us-----blessings and prayers
Jill

Comment by Lynn 1 day ago: Kelly, Thanks for the update on Phoebe. I pray that this dose of chemo will take care of her new tumors. It's good she's getting off the prednisone and I hope whatever they give her will help the knee more! I am also very glad to hear that her incontinence is better! What a relief that must be.

People often don't understand why we do what we do. It's hard for some to comprehend that these are our babies, our children that just happen to have fur and paws and great big hearts! They can't understand why we spend ridiculous (to them) amounts of money, spend so much time and effort and worry to try to make them better and give them quality of life when they are diagnosed with cancer. We love our babies and would do anything for them! We also know them better than anybody and we know when it's enough. I would like to tell you to ignore people who question what you're doing, but we just have to try to make them understand...some never will, but what really matters is that we know in our hearts that we did all we could do when they do finally cross rainbow bridge. You have plenty of people here that know and understand why you do what you do. I am glad to know that Phoebe is no where near the end of her fight!

As always, prayers continue!

Lynn

Comment by Kelly Meyer 1 day ago: We (us and the two oncologists) came to a conclusion today that we would hold off on surgery for Phoebe and try at least one more dose of the Lomustine (chemo) with Phoebe--her records show that it took three doses to get REAL progress the last time! The vet felt that all of her tumors were stabilized (not growing) and that to do surgery now would make us hold off on chemo for at least another week or two depending upon how she was healing; and the vet thought the risk of more tumors coming up as we took the others off was greater due to the fact that she would interrupt her chemo schedule. They did inject a steroid directly into the new tumor on Phoebe's foot to hopefully shrink it directly.

They are opting to ween her off the prednisone and have us start her other anti-inflammatory med to try and help stabilize the knee better--trying to treat the cancer aggressively, but also try and get Phoebe's quality of life back up to where it was--hopefully by trying to get her knee feeling better, she will be happier! Her incontinence will also go away with the cessation of the prednisone.

I know Phoebe will let us know when she can't fight anymore, and she is NOWHERE near that at the moment! I feel I have to say this because some people (in-laws & some friends) are asking if we have reached that point yet--thinking when they hear me talk about Phoebe's treatment it must be nearing the end! Some are even asking how far we are willing to go and if it's in Phoebe's best interest! I will know when that point is, and like I said before, we are NOWHERE near that point! I just know that if we could get her knee feeling better, she would be in a MUCH better place; it's just going to take a bit longer due to the fact we can't operate! She is handling the chemo REALLY well, and we are hoping and praying that her tumors will start to show some reduction and we can get her back into remission!

If Phoebe doesn't respond to the chemo treatment she just got today, then we will probably switch her to another that she hasn't plateaued on! We will see the oncologist again in 10 days to make a chemo course decision, I will keep you posted of her hopeful progress!

Thanks,
Kelly♥