Our dog is dying from cancer. We are waiting on a confirming lab diagnosis, but it looks like lymphoma/lymphosarcoma. They already did a needle biopsy and looked at a slide. Our vet wants a lab to make the pronouncement on the exact type of cancer it is. It's a big ole tumor in the lymph gland, plus another one is enlarged.
She is already in really bad shape and getting worse every day for the last six days. It's really bad. If we wanted to spend $3,000 on chemo the best case scenario is that she would still live less than a year. This is not in the early stage, as it came on so suddenly and is progressing so fast. She already has multiple lymph nodes effected, front and back. She has a deep wet cough. Her leg and foot just keep getting more swollen, too.
I did not want to bring this dog home from the vet on Saturday. My husband and the vet were not ready to let her go. So, I am trying to do my best and have her on prednisone, antibiotics and pain medication. The prednisone is improving her appetite, so at least I can get her meds into her. Unfortunately, the swelling is getting worse, not better and she is having trouble walking on that foot. The antibiotics aren't helping her cough and I think the vet's guess may have been wrong about the cough being due to pneumonia. I think it may be because the cancer has spread to more than her lymph nodes.
I've upped her pain meds. I can do that, at least. I made sure I knew what her maximum dosage was before I left the clinic. I called the clinic today, to let them know how she is doing and talk about this. The vet wasn't in today, but will call tomorrow.
I had a long talk with my husband last night, which was pretty tense in a lot of it. He hasn't wanted to talk about it at all and it was very clear to me on Saturday and last night that the prognosis is not something he is ready to accept or believe. Last night he was talking like even without chemo she could live years. He was thinking she might have a fine quality of life again. Where is he getting this from? I sure don't know. Or talking like maybe it might be something they could remove? It's in her lymphatic system. It's already spread in her body. I was just having such a hard time trying to talk to him when he was coming up with all this.
I really hope we all get on the same page pretty darn soon. Maddie comes first and she is already suffering enough. I don't care what it costs me in my marriage, I will do whatever I have to for her. Thanks for letting me rant a bit on this. I've just been having a really hard time with this. Maybe the next round of talks will go better. One can only hope...
She is already in really bad shape and getting worse every day for the last six days. It's really bad. If we wanted to spend $3,000 on chemo the best case scenario is that she would still live less than a year. This is not in the early stage, as it came on so suddenly and is progressing so fast. She already has multiple lymph nodes effected, front and back. She has a deep wet cough. Her leg and foot just keep getting more swollen, too.
I did not want to bring this dog home from the vet on Saturday. My husband and the vet were not ready to let her go. So, I am trying to do my best and have her on prednisone, antibiotics and pain medication. The prednisone is improving her appetite, so at least I can get her meds into her. Unfortunately, the swelling is getting worse, not better and she is having trouble walking on that foot. The antibiotics aren't helping her cough and I think the vet's guess may have been wrong about the cough being due to pneumonia. I think it may be because the cancer has spread to more than her lymph nodes.
I've upped her pain meds. I can do that, at least. I made sure I knew what her maximum dosage was before I left the clinic. I called the clinic today, to let them know how she is doing and talk about this. The vet wasn't in today, but will call tomorrow.
I had a long talk with my husband last night, which was pretty tense in a lot of it. He hasn't wanted to talk about it at all and it was very clear to me on Saturday and last night that the prognosis is not something he is ready to accept or believe. Last night he was talking like even without chemo she could live years. He was thinking she might have a fine quality of life again. Where is he getting this from? I sure don't know. Or talking like maybe it might be something they could remove? It's in her lymphatic system. It's already spread in her body. I was just having such a hard time trying to talk to him when he was coming up with all this.
I really hope we all get on the same page pretty darn soon. Maddie comes first and she is already suffering enough. I don't care what it costs me in my marriage, I will do whatever I have to for her. Thanks for letting me rant a bit on this. I've just been having a really hard time with this. Maybe the next round of talks will go better. One can only hope...
