Cancer?... need help

[MyBrindleBoy]

My boxer, Max, was taken to the vet for a tumor on his foot (right paw). I ended up leaving him there for them to remove it (we thought it was just an infected ant bite, because he had recently gotten into an ant bed).

The vet called us Friday afternoon after he removed it and said that it removed very easily and didnt have a huge blood supply so he was feeling very reassured about the outcome.

Over the weekend he progressively started using his paw less and less, I assumed it was due to pain, but by this morning, he wouldnt walk.

Took him back in for a bandage change this morning, and the vet called. He said that he was stumped when he removed the bandage. He said there was quite abit of nacrosis, and that it was draining pretty seriously. He said that he was begining to think that this was more serious than we had originally suspected.

We talked about Cancer, chemo, possible amputation of the toe if it was cancer. We wont have any results back until Wednesday.

For those who dont remember me, Max is my daughters therapy dog, she is a heart transplant patient with a mitochondrial myopathy.

Can someone who has been thru this give me some possible scenerios? What is chemo like for a dog owner etc?.

Thanks in advance

 

[MyBrindleBoy]

anyone :(

We go to pick him up at the vet this evening and would love to know what kind of questions we should be asking...

Im at a loss right now.

 

[SoleilBxrs]

im sorry, no answers.. but we're sending (((((((((POSITIVE VIBES)))))))))) your way. Max and your family are in our thoughts. best of luck!

-Kat

 

[Rena&Chopper]

No answers here either, wish I had more knowledge about the whole cancer process.

I am currently going through cancer with my beloved brindle girl, whom is my heart, so I can sympathize with your concerns!! Keep us posted!

Sending you lots of hope and prayers! ((((((hugs)))))))

 

[magsp]

I think the main things you'll need to find out from your vet would be the type of cancer it is and whether or not it has spread. You will want to ask the vet if they got "clean margins" when they removed the tumor. This is often difficult to do with a toe.

The type of cancer is extremely important to know. Some cancers are very aggressive. Some respond very well to radiation (mast cell tumors). Some respond very well to chemotherapy (lymphoma). Some do not respond well to either. For some skin cancers, complete surgical excision with clean margins can be curative.

You will want to ask about staging the cancer (i.e. finding out if it has spread). Some basic staging tests are checking local and regional lymph nodes for cancer cells, x-rays (lung, abdominal, etc.), bone marrow aspirates. The results of the staging are usually what largely determines the course of treatment, if any, you will choose.

Best of luck. My thoughts are with you.

 

[boxers4life2001]

Does the vet know for sure if it is cancer? Just because the surgery site is necrotic doesn't mean it is nessasarly cancer. It could be from a number of other things like......the sutures were pulling to tight, the bandage was to tight, infection etc. Did the bandage get wet at all?

I know it is hard not to worry but please try not to worry to much until the results come back. I have never seen a surgery site necrosis just because it was cancer. My first thought would either be a problem with the sutures or bandage.

Please let us know what the results come back as. Give your baby a big get well hug from us!!!!

~Carrie~

 

[Mel&Kostya]

MyBrindleBoy, I'm sorry to hear about your pup. I hope all goes well and my thoughts are with you!

My previous boxer died of cancer last year. He went through chemo but although it went away for a little while, he came up with this terrible rash and lumps throughout his body. It got into his lymph nodes and his blood system.

As far as I was aware the chemo, didn't affect Lester too much, just made him a bit tired. However he was still his normal natured self (getting excited and kid like behaviour) and he did get an extra year of life.

I'm sure there are more successful stories than mine though and in the end it's a decision that only you can make.

Good luck!

 

[Cindy Creel]

I hope all goes well when you talk to the vet. I am so sorry to hear this.

 

[boxers4life2001]

How is Max doing? Did you get the results back yet?

~Carrie~