thanks for the responses!  I have been reading through Chloe's blog and I was reading all over the site last night.  I'm actually starting to get worried again as what I'm reading here and other places is sounding much less optimistic than how I felt yesterday when I left the vet.  The vet had said this type of tumor doesn't metastasize to other parts of the body; but then reading online I'm seeing figures as high as 50% of the time they (the level 3 fibrosarcomas) do?  

I have to talk to the vet this morning; but I am back to wanting to move forward with the surgery tomorrow rather than waiting until Monday.  considering how fast this thing grows, I think that each day could make a real difference.  

The vet talked to me briefly about radiation yesterday and I really don't think I want to go down that road.  It sounded very painful and uncomfortable for Spencer.

For those that have had a front leg amputation, did they take the scapula too?  That is the plan with Spencer and I'm wondering if it makes the recovery any harder.

I'm optimistic that he will recover well from the surgery.  he is a tough dog - lived for who knows how many months on the streets of Atlanta before getting picked up by the dog catcher, set to be euthanized, picked up by a rescue (at 7 months old) and then we found him.  For the biopsy he had last week they tried to see if they could remove the tumor, so he has a large incision - he pulled the stitches out right before he was coming home, so they had to put staples in and I think that there are 12 staples - so a pretty big incision.  And he is acting like nothing is wrong.  I have to stop him from playing with all of his buddies on the street.  

After surgery, did you guys have your dogs wear t-shirts?  Spencer is my 3rd doberman and I have learned that E collars just don't work well on them - their neck is so much thicker than their heads that the e-collars come off way to easily.  So for last weeks surgery recovery Spencer spent several days wearing t-shirts to keep him from messing with his incision.  Is this something that we can do after the amputation?

Oh, and I forgot to introduce myself - I'm Jac.  "TIA" was for "thanks in advance".  

Thanks guys!  I feel better after the drop off.  the doctor was very optimistic.  Spencers blood work has all been good.  They did another set of digital x-rays today and saw nothing of concern.  The vet said that the thing that is playing against us with delaying the amputation at all is putting some things in our favor too.  Meaning that 3 weeks ago we know this tumor was not there (at least that you could see).  A week ago we did the surgery for the biopsy (the day after seeing the mass for the first time) and less than a week later we are doing the amputation.  Often a mass comes up, the owner watches it, decides to take the dog in after a few days - a few weeks, the vet watches it.  Might try aspirating it.  Might or might not get a good sample.  Then they do the biopsy, and here they are a month or more from when the mass was first noticed before they start looking at a course of action.  We have moved on it immediately, hopefully fast enough to catch it before it gets to the organs.  They also think that Spencer's demeanor bodes well for it not having gotten too far - he has no loss of appetite, still has all of his energy and spirit.  So, we are preparing for the worst; but hoping for the best.  Hopefully they can get all of the cells tomorrow and this is the last we will see of that tumor!  

And I am still in the Atlanta area.  Not in actual Atlanta (though my mom does live *in* Atlanta).  We live out in Cobb.  Meghan - I have family in Valdosta and have been meaning to make a trip down there sometime.  I'll also be in Dunnellon, FL in September with Spencer in tow!  But that might be a long haul for you...

(we have decided that we are going to try desperately to never kennel Spencer again.  When possible my mom and step dad will keep him if we are out of town somewhere that he can't go - like Disney.  If they can't keep him - like for our ski trip to WY since they go with us - I'm going to start looking now for a house sitter who will stay in our house to keep his routine normal.)

thanks!  about to go read through those!

Yeah, Spencer is very big for a doberman.  He is my 3rd doberman and by far the largest.  I suspect he was bred by a less than reputable breeder.  you know, one who tells customers about so called "Warlock Dobermans" and how this large size is desirable.  When in actuality his size means he doesn't meet breed standards at all, could never be shown and should never have been used for breeding (which he wasn't since he got away).  I wonder if he got away from some sort of puppy mill after they docked his tail and removed his claws; but before doing the ears.  (which is why we wanted him, all of my dobermans have had natural ears).  but on the flip side, I don't know if it is nature or nurture; but he is a GREAT dog.  Wonderful with our 3 small kids, protective enough of us for it to be a good thing; but not to a point that he is dangerous to anyone who isn't meaning us harm.  I'm sure a lot of his personality comes from what he went through on the streets and in the pound (he NEVER runs away from us, is very loyal...).

Hopefully his size isn't going to make things too much harder for him.  But we are really going to have to do something to teach him that he can no longer "run" on/off of our 5 foot retaining wall!