Canine
Osteosarcoma Cancer - Angel
See Also Canine osteosarcoma
Angel had canine osteosarcoma
By
the time you take your animal to the vet to see why they are starting
to limp the vets say that it has probably already spread to the lungs
but it is just not visible on any x-rays yet.
We went ahead and did
the amputation & the chemo and were praying that maybe just maybe
she would be one of the lucky 10 % who could be cured. Almost always the
canine osteosarcoma cancer is fatal. Survival rate can be 2 years or more but the cancer usually
gets them. Angel was not a lucky one. With over 7,000.00 of vet bills
and 8 months later she still died.
Also people should know
that if they elect to due the surgery as we did that there is really no
cure for canine osteosarcoma. You really need to be in a position (as we were)
to always be home to monitor them and you almost have to care for them
like you would any human. We hand fed her with
a wooden spoon and spoiled her silly. We had big fluffy pillow for her
to lay on the last couple of months after we found out it had spread to
her lungs.  We
knew it would only be a matter of time.
Then they get weak and
it's hard for them to even go outside and do their business anymore. So..
You have to use puppy pads to keep them from feeling like they have to
get up and travel to the door to go in the yard. It got to be a real chore
for her.
There are so many things the vets do not tell you and when anything strange
happens you are on the phone trying to get someone to call you back and
help you. We have mixed feelings about the whole ordeal.
We do not regret doing
what we could to extend her life but we were really not happy with
the unknowns we were not told may occur and then when they did, that's
when we were told. We loved her so very much that it put us in a situation
that we were willing to do anything. I
was unhappy about the way we could not get in touch with the vets and
other things that angel went through that we did not know that would occur.
Her nose would bleed sometimes. This scared us to death. She looked to
us for help. It was very sad but also at the same time she knew we loved
her and were doing all we could to help her. She really never appeared
to be in any pain though. We thank God for
taking her quickly and merciful and she died at home ad we did not have
to put her down at the end.
Here is just one link
that is a good one out of the many many ones we found that we read about.
You can imagine all the research we did on the internet to learn about
this cancer. Its the worst kind a dog can get.
Canine Osteosarcoma (canine) - veterinarypartner.com - a vin company!
The bosco page: information about canine osteosarcoma, transdermal fentanyl,
and euthanasia.
These are just a couple of stories from others we read. They will break
your heart.
Hal's story: our experience with canine osteosarcoma
canine osteosarcoma : shannon's story Tom & Mary Anne Lunsford
Canine osteosarcoma, reprinted with permission from The bosco page: information about canine osteosarcoma, transdermal fentanyl,
and euthanasia.
Canine osteosarcoma usually appears in large dogs, often in the legs. Sometimes the tumor originates in a place where an earlier injury occurred. Warning signs include limping, especially progressive lameness, and swelling. The cancer weakens and destroys the bone as it progresses, which can sometimes result in fractures.
This is a primary tumor, which means that the cancer originates in the bone and then moves elsewhere in the body. It is extremely aggressive. The cancerous cells tend to metastasize first to blood-rich cells, such as those present in the lungs. Frequently, by the time the dog manifests visible symptoms, such as limping or swelling, the cancer has already spread. Repeated coughing is a sign that it may have invaded the dog's lungs.
Treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The traditional surgical option is amputation, but recently a few universities have been performing limb-sparing procedures. This usually involves removing the tumor and strengthening the limb with a bone graft. Whatever surgical option is chosen, it must be combined with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy in order to be effective. This is because surgery removes the main tumor, but if the cancer has metastasized to the lungs or spread elsewhere in the bones, it will only continue to advance.
Chemotherapy is very effective at killing any remaining cancer cells present in the dog's body. Basically, it is the process of injecting or administering orally a combination of drugs designed to target cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs kill cells that grow quickly, like cancer cells. (Other fast-growing cells include those in the hair follicles, which explains why chemotherapy can cause hair loss.) The idea is to kill the cancer cells without permanently damaging other, healthy ones.
Both chemotherapy and radiation therapy can be offered in lieu of surgery. This is good, because some dogs are not good candidates for surgery, such as those who are elderly or suffering from hip dysplasia or arthritis. But if chemotherapy and radiation therapy aren't appropriate either, then pain management becomes paramount.
Veterinarians have a wide range of narcotics available to control pain, many of which are also approved for use in humans. As with humans, however, these drugs may inhibit a dog's responses. He or she may sleep too much, or seem woozy or dazed. If this is the case, the veterinarian may suggest delivering the narcotic through the dog's skin, in the form of a patch. This method has risks of its own, but can significantly enhance the quality of the dog's life.
|
