Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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When Harley's amp surgery was canceled because they found the lung tumors I thought it was the end. I remember asking his vet what would eventually rule -- the lungs or the leg, and he said probably the lungs. Three months later it seems the leg is what is affecting his quality of life. The lung tumors have grown, but they are growing slowly by cancer standards (about 6-7%/month). End of May they were 4 and 6 cm they are now 6 and 9 cm. The one tumor that was biopsied was confirmed as cancer but the FNA sample was too small to be exact so the report could only narrow it down to one of these: carcinogen, liposarcoma or histiosarcoma(?).
I would like to give him a chance to enjoy his remaining months (and I hope it will be months and not days or weeks). I talked to the surgeon and she had no opinion on what surgery would be better.
What are the choices? If the tumor is just "de-bulked" it will be back in 4-6 months. The oncologist would change the protocol to cytoxan since this could help slow the growth of the leg and lung tumors. He has had this surgery twice before so I know recovery would be about 2 wks (assuming no complications). If I went with the amputation, there would be no concern over ther limb tumor returning but with lung tumors the size they are, realistically is that even a concern? Or I guess I do have a third option which is just do nothing and when he can no longer walk release him.
I have been weighing pros and cons for a week now and am at the point where I probably am not seeing things clearly anymore, so if you see something I am missing or have an opinion one way or the other . . .
Harley is an 8 year old Golden Retriever. Amp surgery for an infiltrative lipoma canceled due to two masses in chest. A rescue, he found his forever home on 3/18/07 and left for his eternal home on 1/09/13. His story and medical history are at http://myharley.....pawds.com/
So sorry to hear about Harley... love his pic!
The tumor is on his leg and has been debulked before? Is it causing him pain?
It's very difficult to know what the right thing to do is when they have lung mets. My personal feeling is that if the leg is causing pain, I would amputate, knowing that I'm probably not doing anything to prolong his life, but more with the goal of giving a better quality of life with the time he has left (which may be months!)
Honestly, I don't know that there is a "right" or "wrong" decision. You know your boy best. Sometimes you just need to follow your heart and hope for the very best.
Please keep us posted.
Right hind limb amputated 7/3/12 for OSA, started on alternating cycles of Carboplatin and Doxorubicin and oral Palladia. Single lung met 9/1. Met in the neck muscle removed 9/30. Large mass in sublumbar lymph node 10/2. Rescue chemo with ifosfamide 10/6. Mets to the rib and axillary lymph node 10/21. Started Leukeran and Pred 10/25. Wookie left this Earth for a far better place on 12/4/12. I miss you, Boo, you were my heart.
Oh I'm so sorry that is a tough one. Wookie is right, there is no right or wrong here, you just have to go with your gut feeling. The surgeon doesn't have an opinion, but what kind of thoughts did the oncologist have about the lung mets growth?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
jerry said
Oh I'm so sorry that is a tough one. Wookie is right, there is no right or wrong here, you just have to go with your gut feeling. The surgeon doesn't have an opinion, but what kind of thoughts did the oncologist have about the lung mets growth?
Apparently I did not hit submit and lost my reply?
At Harley's last visit, the oncologist mentioned that since Harley's lung tumors were slow growing, she felt the leg which is now about 4" larger than his other leg is becoming a quality of life issue for him. the lung mets have grown by 6% in July and 7% in August and since that is still within the "stable disease" range she would ask the surgeon about debulking again. The only thing she really said about the lung mets growth is that they need to be really large to cause problems. she did not give any specific size. I suppose it can vary from dog to dog. She had mentioned that since they are on the peripheral of lungs this is a better location. I mentioned that every time they are debulked the tumors come back faster and she mentioned going to a different chemo protocol (cytoxan) since that can be more effective on small growths and possibly slow growth of leg tumor. I assumed that I would be buying quality of life for another couple of months. I think that since nothing has been what it was thought to be since this began 2 years ago that neither surgeon or oncologist are comfortable making a prognosis. Also, it seems there is some disagreement or different schools of thought in the area of liposarcomas or soft tissue sarcomas and cell structure is so similar that it might not be that easy to distinguish what it is. I sympathize with them because if they do not have a definite diagnosis it's hard to guess what is best treatment. I do have surgery scheduled for Thursday morning and need to decide what that surgery will be. My gut feeling is that there is something missing and it's right in front of us, but maybe that is just what cancer is.
Harley is an 8 year old Golden Retriever. Amp surgery for an infiltrative lipoma canceled due to two masses in chest. A rescue, he found his forever home on 3/18/07 and left for his eternal home on 1/09/13. His story and medical history are at http://myharley.....pawds.com/
I'm sorry you lost your reply. That happens to me sometime.
Hmmm..geez, you're in a tough spot. Cancer just acts so unpredictable it can even stump the most brilliant minds like those on your medical team.
I think at this point you have to ask yourself, how would he handle the amputation recovery? If he's handled the other debulking recoveries well, chances are he can do well during amputation recovery, which like the debulking, is generally two to four weeks long.
Unfortunately predicting the time frame for how long he will be around after the recuperation is a no-win game, you just never know. It sounds to me like he's been defying the odds for so long, that it's entirely possible he will keep on doing so after the leg is gone. On the other hand if he doesn't, then I know that would put you in a tough spot as well. Ugh.
One last thing to consider: when it comes to time frames, prognoses and all that, remember that dogs don't care. They don't measure time, they dont' mark days off the calendar, the don't feel regret for days gone by. No matter what you decide to do, if Harley's last days are spent pain-free and happy, then that's all that matters in the long run.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Kathy,
Though all of our PMs and emails, the constant message has been that you are not ready to give up on Harley. You have done everything - doctor visits, medicines, supplements, diet... - that I cannot help but believe that 'making him comfortable for the time he has left' would leave you without peace at the end of the journey.
I can totally understand what a hard decision this is for you. I am not familiar with the debulking surgery and recovery. Although the recovery time you mentioned is about the same, is the debulking surgery as painful as the amputation? Once recovered from the debulking would he be completely pain-free on all fours until the tumor returns or would he have residual pain the whole time?
Lisa and Angel Zeus
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
Lisa asks a good question as to whether the debulking would allow him to be completely pain-free...if it would, that changes the equation somewhat. If not, I think it would be difficult to have him go through that recovery and still have pain.
We had a different situation from yours, but for what it is worth, we only got about 7 weeks with Holly after her surgery, and I would do it again. Seeing her pain-free and happy rather than limping was such a relief. She was able to run and play and really enjoy life again, and I wouldn't give that back for anything.
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