Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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So the biopsy results of this new nodule are back and it is indeed giant cell osteosarcoma. To recap: in June Jill developed a large ulcerous mass on the outside of her toe (she never limped or was in any pain I should mention) that wound up being giant cell osteosarcoma. We amputated her toe and they found very clean margins. We consulted multiple oncologists with only one suggesting amputating her leg (since the margins were so clean). Now six months later I found this nodule under her skin in the same leg (again no limping or pain and the nodule is not on bone). Her lungs are clear and the X-ray of the bone of her leg looks great but a needle aspirated shows a sarcoma.
Now I feel like a horrible mommy for not amputating her leg back in June while letting this horrible disease spread throughout her body and I'm terrified that with such "clean margins" it still spread up her leg 
. Please someone talk me off the ledge.....
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
It's always a terrible news to learn that it's Osteo. But don't blame yourself. How could you know it was that? You did all what you were supposed to do. Nothing less.
Dogs: Friends for life, faithful and true.
Courage is being scared to death... but saddling up anyways.- John Wayne
bikeintime.wordpress.com (will soon have Hank story)
Could of, should of, would of....these thoughts just kill us on this cancer journey. I'm not making fun- I'm saying I've been there.
All we can do is make the best decision we can at the time with all the information we have. You sound like you had lots of consults and made an informed decision for Jill.
When I found the tumor in Maggie's knee I kicked myself because I felt like I should have known to be looking for it since she had a previous tumor (removed with clean margins and no recommendation for further treatment) and if I had been looking then maybe I would have found it sooner... then maybe she wouldn't have lost her leg....
All that second guessing was just dragging me down. Mag was right there and needed me to focus on what was in front of us.
This cancer crap ain't for the weak!
Karen and the pugapalooza
Do not beat yourself up. You did what you thought you should do at the time. All you can do now is move forward and be strong for her 
I thought the same thoughts after putting Sassy through a 2nd biopsy and should have just done the amputation after the first but wanted that diagnosis and they could never give it to me until her leg was gone. We all could beat ourselves up but that wouldn't get any of us anywhere for our babies. Stay strong
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
You know that you will doubt any decision if something else goes awry. It's the nature of the beast. Mom and dad to children, or mom and dad to furries, we know that those littles are totally dependent on us and our decisions. Ergo, we feel doubt and guilt and all that cacadoo. OS is really ugly. I did a lot of webrary research the weekend before surgery and it was not pretty. You do what you need to do and I think most people would opt to remove a toe rather than a leg and hope for the best. If there is one important thing my old pup's journey has taught me, it is to NOT obsess. No good comes of that
Please be kind to yourself, you did the best you or your vet could. All you can do is follow Jill's lead and move forward with life. She's not looking back, neither should you.
No matter what, remember that just like with cancer, there are no guarantees in life. That's one things that humans have a hard time with, they all want a 100 percent guarantee that things will work out exactly as they planned. But that never happens. Whatever comes next, you have to know that you are doing a fabulous job at a pet pawrent, going well beyond what most people do for their furry companions, and that Jill is recovering and will h ave a great quality of life because you care enough to help her right now. She's not counting days, or feeling angry at you, she just wants you to be happy so that she can too. Never let cancer rob you of these happy moments, because that is the only way it can "win."
So be good to yourself, you are doing great ya hear?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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