Hi lefkos — so sorry you have found yourself (& Molly) in this scary situation.  I can’t speak for other Tripawed members, but for me making the decision to amputate my 8yr old, almost 100lbs, retired male greyhound’s - Buck’s - front left leg was overwhelming.  It is a big decision and only you can know what’s best for Molly, your family and yourself.  That said, this is a community of folks with 3-legged animals, so we may be a bit biased 

There will always be a selfish component in wanting to do whatever we can to keep our pets with us for as long as possible but, at this point, I think there is just as strong an argument that choosing amputation could be a selfless thing to do...  Surgery and hospital care is expensive and home caregiving can be scary, stressful and exhausting.  Treating (or trying to treat) Molly’s symptoms until her leg breaks or the pain can’t be masked would, NO DOUBT, be easier for you and your family.  

You have to let yourself off the hook for wanting to keep Molly with you.  Of course you want that, but it’s important to remember that animals live in the NOW - quality of life, not quantity is what matters to them.  All you can do is to try and make this decision based on what you think is best for all involved, including Molly, under the circumstances. That said, I would add go with your gut (not because you posted above that your gut is saying amputation but because in situations with so many unknowns and uncertainties our guts can often be better than our brains at sifting through it all) and try not to second guess yourself afterward.  In the end, you know what you and your family can and can’t do from a financial and caregiving perspective and you know Molly, her usual temperament, her general health, how she handles stress and stressful situations and the like.

My thoughts and best, best wishes are with you and Molly at this time.  Give her a belly rub from us. 

Hi Lefkos, your situation is a mirror image of mine, only mine is an 8 year old Doberman, Blitz. He was just dx 2 days ago, left lower front leg. We are scheduled for a bx tomorrow. Currently he is limping intermitently, and his quality of life impacted more by the sedation effects of the pain meds. But I do believe he is uncomfortable and I know it is going to get worse.  What scares me the most about not amputating is the pain he will endure if we don't. Not only with the cancer, but if it fractures, and it likely will. All that has to be more heart wrenching and expensive than amputation. I empathize with your situation. Trust your gut decision, it is usually the right one.