boxer with cancer

[kdmboxer]

I have a 9 year old female boxer that was diagnosed with mast cell tumors about 1 month ago. I chose not to get her treated due to her age and cost.
Since her diagnosis, she has had more tumors show up, and I am unsure what to do. I do not want to have her put down, but I have 3 small children and I don't want them to experience seeing her pass. She seems pretty healthy otherwise, so it is hard to make a decision. If anyone has advice and experience with tumors, or what I should do, or how long you think she might live. I would really appreciate it.

Thanks

 

[Net45582]

Your Boxer will let you know when its time to say goodbye. Make a list of things she enjoys in life. When she can no longer enjoy these things then you'll know its time.
You may want to visit www.caninecancerawareness.org for some info on MCT. I've had several boxers live many happy years with mct. It just depends on where the tumors develope and which organs they affect.
I'm sorry you have to deal with the cancer beast. Hugs from me and Chancey.

Don't forget to post your introduction in the newbies forum. It's supposed to be your first.

 

[ehayes21]

Manny is 9 and has several MCT's. Due to his age, I didn't want to put him through surgeries and possible chemo. They haven't attacked any of his organs, but I keep a close eye on him. He's still a happy, active, goofy boxer! Double hugs from Manny and Rowdy.

 

[jenn77]

Do you know what Stage/Grade the tumors are? If they are Grade II or below, she could live for a long, long time to come and be perfectly normal, just with a few bumps on his skin.

I just lost my 6 yr old to mast cell cancer, but his were Grade 3 - basically uncurable and very aggressive. Also, they were internal as opposed to on the skin. After he was diagnosed, he lived for 18 weeks. He was perfectly happy, healthy, playful, etc. until the day before we put him down. It was actually pretty remarkable how it all happened.

In terms of how long your dog might live, it really does depend on the Grade of the tumors. If you can tell us that it might be easier to talk about.

Best of luck!

 

[msjosi]

Jenn77 is right...it all really depends on what the lab graded the mast cell tumors as. My Josi was just dx. with mast cell-stage 2 and after seeing the oncologist where she mapped her body, ran blood work, aspirates of all lumps, abdominal ultrasound, etc. she determined that at this time Josi's was all in her skin. The doctor told us that if the tumors that continue to develop stay in her skin, which they will continue to develop, then she could live another five to ten years with this condition and never even know it. Generally whatever the dogs tumors were initially staged at is what the new tumors will turn out to be. The problem is if one gets internal so you just have to say your prayers and hope for the best. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[buffylvangel]

Bendryl

Try giving Benedryl. It sometimes helps with the size of the tumors.

 

[kdmboxer]

Thanks for the website, it was very helpful.
We did not send off the aspirations, the doctor just looked at them on a slide and told me they were MST, and they were malignant. We did not discuss grading, and I did not know to ask. This is my first boxer to own, so I am learning alot. She is 9 years old so I don't think she will live another 5 or 10, the doctor said she might live another 2 years, but she said it without any expectations about the tumors. I just want to make sure I know when to take her in. It is hard to know, especially when everyone says they keep eating, playing, etc. Although she is already not playing that much, she tries, but doesn't seem to have the energy.
She has good days and bad days, and has started scratching a spot on her neck until it bleeds, then she cleans herself up by licking. Everytime it seems to heal she starts scratching it again. It is really gross. She looks so bad with all the tumors on her. She has one on her knee that is the size of an egg, and one on her paw the size of a golf ball. I just keep watching her closely, but I am afraid I will wake up one morning to find her not breathing. Thanks for all the advice.

 

[kpowell]

I used to hope that my old dog would not be breathing one morning instead of me having to make the decision. I actually think I might have waited too long, but finally it was pretty clear. The hardest part was thinking of him as his healthy self and comparing that with his sick self. The decline was so gradual that I really didn't notice how bad he really was. I hope that helped a little bit.