I own two beautiful pit bull sisters who are now 8 years old by the names of Luz and Paz.  They are the first pit bulls we have ever owned and like everyone I had the stereotypical image of pit bulls in my mind.  You know, killer dogs.  These two are the most gentle, friendly and loving dogs ever.

Luz was diagnosed with bone cancer after limping for about 6 months and the vet guessing it was arthritis.  She had her front leg amputated shortly thereafter and it has been a year since that happened.  She has gone through the chemo, blood tests, x rays and plenty of angst. She has been on a regimen of previcox, tramadol, doxicycline and alkeran along with fish oil and glutamine powder. She had been doing extremely well and her oncologist wanted to perform x rays on her lungs last week.  The cancer has spread to her lungs and I am extremely devastated and heart broken.

Has this happened to anyone else?

I'm so sorry to read Luz has been diagnosed with lung mets.   My Mackenzie (golden retriever) was diagnosed with lung mets in June of 2010.  I was completely devastated when I first heard the news.  My vet put her on the metronomic protocol that included palladia (very effective form of chemo pill) and cytaxin (another effective form of a chemo pill – both have very little side effects.)  This protocol really helped in keeping the lung mets under control – these lung mets never grew in size or increased as a result.  Unfortunately we just lost her on Dec 29th as the cancer metastisized to another leg but it wasn't because of the lung mets.  I would recommend that you talk to your vet about this protocol as it's becoming more well known as a very effective treatment for lung mets and other types of tumors. 

 I would also like to say that there is life after lung mets.  Mackenzie lived a very healthy and happy life for many months after her diagnosis and honestly, I didn't even know she had them once I accepted this.   It didn't stop her from swimming, running, climbing up hills and doing all those things she loved.   So I wish you all the best and if you have any questions on this protocol please don't hesitate to ask.  I highly recommend it. 

Kami, Angel Mackenzie and Kobe

In a way I want to say congratulations, a year is quite good, unfortunately this journey shows no mercy, I'm not sure if saying mets are normal, but it seeems like they eventually  show up in a good portion of these guys, so I guess I'd have to say take a deep breath, it's just part of the process. Address it, but don't consider it a death sentence by any means. I'm not sure I would be right in saying this, mets surely have an effect on these guys, but the more I read and hear from people here, they are not the determining factor when we lose them, it seems to be the progression of the cancer to other parts of the body that ultimately takes them. Rely on your vet for treatment, sounds like he/she has done you well so far. Paws up, Spirit Gus and Dan

I am so sorry to hear that Luz has developed lung mets.  My heart goes out to you.  Remember though, as others have told you, it  is true. that dogs don't have time stamps. It sounds like if you wouldn't have had a routine x-ray you wouldn't even know.  (Ignorance is bliss, actually.) Many dogs have lived a long time with mets.  I know we don't get enough time with them.  Cancer sucks, there is just no way around it.

Keep us informed.

Debra & Angel Emily