I just got a voice mail that there is evidence of lymph invasion.  I would like to know if others have heard that and what it meant to them.  Are your dogs still around?  If so how long have they been living with this and what if any other mets have shown up?  If they got thier wings how long after diagnosis did they live?

My family is full of cancer survivors.  I was so upset when I first learned about Sammy's diagnosis but then I thought he would fight and win like most of my family.  I have been reading about this with people but there are no real polls for dogs. 

What did this mean for you and your dog?

After 8 weeks of chemo, Skyler was diagnosed with lymph invasion and mets to the spleen. Since she had gone down hill so quickly, we knew it was time for her to cross over. She had stopped eating, and just laid on the floor motionless. Your situation is different, and like Chloe's Mom said, talk to your vet or oncologist. Ask lots of questions until you understand completely. Please keep us posted, and we have our paws crossed for you! Sending you a big hug too!

Cathy/Jane/Spirit Skyler/Chloe

I guess I didn't word this correctly, I was trying to find out if everyone/anyone had heard this phrase and how it has effected the outcome of their cancer fight….

Jerry's pack, I tried that link but only got one page.  As you are coming to find out I have some sort of bad computer "karma" that makes it more difficult for me than most in getting things done in this computer age.  I should have known you would have already started this survey.  It makes things easier to see it in written down.  So how do I find the rest of the info on that link?

Dr. Pam, I see you understand what I am looking for.  I know that everyone is different, but if I could understand this disease maybe I would have a better chance at fighting it.  Example" most dogs with this paticular diagnosis had the best chance of survival with these sups/ and this chemo.  I am sure many people have already tried to correlate all of the data to give their dogs the best chance possible.  I would feel too guilty if I didn't do everything I can to give Sammy the best chance possible.

Krun15 and the Golden Girls, thank you for replying.  I will check out maggie's story.  I am so sorry Golden girls that you lost Skyler so quickly.  It just doesn't seem fair.  I hate this disease.  So many good pups lost.

Elizabeth

Hello again Jerry's pack,

I downloaded it and it opened to dogs who had amputations and stitches verses staples.  There was no other info or other pages to look at.  I don't know if I own a disk (I will have to ask the husband) but if I do I will try the right click thing.

Jack did not have any "lymph node invasion" and he passed 14 months later.  It is not necessarily an indication of whether cancer has spread or not, but rather shows how the cancer has spread…sometimes it can go through the lymph system, other times through the blood vessels.  Obviously in our case, a clean lymph node was not an indication of no cancer.  I know its all you think about in the beginning, but seriously, time becomes so much less of an issue once you discover that every day is a gift.  One day after a cancer diagnosis is one more day that you get with your dog, and that, for me, is enough :)

<3 Laura and Invisible Jackers

Hi Elizabeth!  

I also gave up FB for months – just kept on reading, reading, reading all I could get my hands and eyes on to try to figure out the best way to keep Holly by my side for longer.  It was what I needed to do at the time – otherwise I would have felt so helpless in this battle.  She just had 8 month ampuversary.  I think sometime last spring I slowly stopped obsessing about reading everything because it sunk in that there is no magic formula for helping to beat the odds with this.  I'm so thankful for each day that she is here with me.  And I am so thankful for all the things she is teaching me as we walk this road together – she really doesn't know she has this awful disease, and loves to get those scratches and hugs and walks and car rides, not to mention treats to help celebrate everyone's milestones here!   Shanna said it best – look to Sammy for inspiration – he is living one moment at a time.  But also allow yourself the time to read and research if that is helping you – it really did help me to come to terms with all of this.

Hugs,
Holly, Zuzu and Susan