Cancer

[kel_seewhite]

Hi

I am new and I guess just looking for some feedback and help through this difficult time.

My little girl Kelsey (12 and a half year old Maltese) has a tumour on her spine and it is confirmed cancer although I do not know if it is begnin or otherwise. Over the past months we have been through X-Rays, u/s and MRI as we were hoping it was a disc problem. She is in great spirits and wants to play and ber her usual self, but her back right leg keeps giving out on her as the tumour is on her right side pressing on her cord. I have seen the MRI results myself but have never had a pet with cancer bfore and it' tearing me apart.

They are recommending surgery on her as it is at the very end of her spine and in their words easier to operate on. The cost is between $4,000 - $5,0o0 which we can afford. I still have some remaining questions for the dr. about if we do remove the tumour and find out it's mal. how quickly will it come back? Will he be able to even answer that question. My husband and I have both agreed that we do not want to put her through chemo nor radiation. So if her recovery from surgery is a few months and then the tumour grows right back and she is in the exact same position she is in now amd I really doing right by her. I am trying so hard to not be selfish, she has been a wonderful companion and we love her so much. Seeing her like this is hard, but I also still see life in her and lots of it.

I am torn as to what to do. I cannot even think about her leaving us now and if we do not do the surgery, they can put her on meds which will slow the growth of the tumour and help with her discomfort. She will slowly get worse and move into the pain stage as the tumour grows which of course we will not put her through at all.

I cry on a raindrop she is such a big part of our life and I know she will leave us one day I just never thought like this.

Any help is gratefully appreciated.

Thanks

[Tankstar]

I know how hard of a decision this is. My dog too fell to cancer, she had it in her stomache, but we got to it pretty much to late, it got way to big. The vets wanted to operate, I couldnt do it and laid her to rest. Now I'm by no means telling you to do this, as you are the only one (including your dog) to know when to do it. I have basiclly no advise but I'm very sorry to hear about this, it is so hard when they get older and have to go through this kind of stuff.

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

I've wrestled with my Poodle having cancer - diagnosed last year. We did surgery and weeks and weeks of treatments and now he is in remission, but it was $$$$$$$$. It really depends on how much time the vet thinks surgery will buy and what are the quality of life issues, both with surgery and without.

We found a cancer specialist and that made our decisions easier because we felt we could count on what they were telling us as being reliable - well, reliable as medicine can be. Do you have a veterinary school you could take her to?

Also, why have they not biopsied the tumor to find out what kind it is and whether it's malignant or benign?

Hang in there. I know how tough this is. We're all here for you.

[kimberly]

Hi Kel! First of all welcome to the forum!

I understand what your gowing through and it's hard! My first born Cody passed of cancer. He was 10 yrs old. Wasn't sick a day in is life. On a fri he was shivering so bad, I had no clue why and took him to my vet with in the hour. The following Thurs he passed in my arms. I was devastated! From the vet to special vet and then to university of pa! He had a tumor on his heart that was to small to be operated on for him to live! The out come for him was to come home and live his days out! It was just to few! And it was $7000 later! But we tried everything! But...

I am not trying to scare you! At least you already know what's going on! Since this happened to Cody, I have gotten pet ins. Cancer is comman for labs.

My Sahra Jane just had surgery this past mon and there is a program that is offered that you might be able to get to help! It's helping us! www.carecredit.com (hopefully mods will let this be here) I did file on pc and my mom got the card. It breaks your payments down! So where you don't have to pay bill up front! Sahra Janes surgery is $2500 and with this carecredit, it will be $120 a month and no interest!

I know how Kelsey is your baby and I send my prayers to you! LOL Kimberly

[kel_seewhite]

Thanks for all the suppport and help, it's appreciated.

I spoke with the dr. again today and asked him more specific questions about the surgery vs. leaving this play out on it's own. With the tumour being on her spinal cord he said they are recommending surgery over the biospy as it's in a spot that you want to try and deal with as little as possible due to the risks. Also he said if you are wanitng to give her more time this is the best option as we can then have it removed not entirely but as much as they can again due to the area. He said they do their best to remove as much of the tumour as possible but due to the location if they are risking her being paralzed vs walking with most of it gone, they will go for the later. He said the tumour will come back, but this will give us more time with her and we can then also treat her.

We have decided on giving her a chance at a little more time. She has been so good to us and she deserves this. He said the tumour depending on what kind it is may grow back within six months or we may have two or more years with her.

It looks like she will go in next week and I just hope that she gets the best possible outcome for her. She will be in the hospital for one week at the most and her recovery should be good. I pray they get as much of it out that they can.

[Bosley Slave]

I respect this difficult decision you are having to make and my heart goes out to you. Know you are in my heart and thoughts and I will be sending all the positive will your way that I can generate. Give her a snuggle and hug for all of us here at PDG.

[EmmaGirl]

Welcome to forum. I'm sorry to hear of what you're going through but you sound like a thoughtful and loving person who wants to do what's right for your beloved Kelsy. Doggie hugs and wet kisses to her.
Many prayers are with you.
EG

[jnc_mcguire]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I had a little dog name Sallie that only weight 4pounds and had her for 19 years and had to have her put to sleep because of cancer and that was very hard for me to do she was just like one of my children but the vet told me that she was in alot of pain and the best thing for her was for me to let her go because there was nothing could be done for her I hold on to her for 2 more weeks hoping the he was wrong and that she would get feeling better but i told myself if she is no better in 2 weeks i would have to let her go because that would be the right thing to do i have pictures of her hanging on the wall with my family pictures because she was apart of the family she might be gone but never will be forgotten so my heart go out to you and hope you both the best

[Bellabianca]

So sorry to hear about Kelsey. Welcome to the forum, you will find lots of support, encouragement and comfort here.

[kel_seewhite]

Thanks for all the welcomes and heart filled prayers, hugs, thoughts, and everything else. You guys are really great.

I have come to terms with our decision for surgery and I am putting my faith in God that Kelsey will be strong through this difficult time and I will now know in my heart that I did all I could for her. When it's time to say goodbye it will be so very hard, but she deserves that much from me. I just wish I could freeze time so she would be with me forever. I cannot imagine life without her in it. When I watch her and my 2 year old son together it brings me to tears.

As I cuddled with her last night I told her how much I loved her and that I will never be the same person for having her in my life she has made me better. I am going to try and make t his time I have left with her the best yet.