Heartbase tumors

[Pat Love]

Our 9 year old, 98 lb., neutered white male boxer had just been diagnosed with a large heartbase tumor that is wrapped around his ascending aorta. This was found via ultrasound done before placing a 24 hour monitor to check for cardiomyopathy. Of course we are devastated. Has anyone had experience with this type of tumor or know where we can find some good information. I have searched the web and have not been able to find very much information. Our cardiologist vet feels that surgery is not an option and has advised us to just give our dog lots of love until death occurs. I have started him on some herbal remedies to boost his immunity and hopefully slow the growth of the tumor. It is just too hard to sit and do nothing.
Thanks for any help.
Pat Love

 

[courtney323]

Pat Love -

You need to post your Introduction. This is required of all new members, and should have actually been your very first post upon joining.

www.boxerworld.com/rules

 

[Net45582]

I'm so sorry you have this diagnosis to live with. I have not had experience with this. You may want to use the search tool here and see if anyone else has posted about it. Our thoughts are with you.

 

[boxers4life2001]

Hi Pat,

My baby boy Chance was diagnosed on March 28th with a very large heart based tumor. He just turned 9 y/o last December. The tumor, at the time diagnosis, was the size of a baseball. The doctors suspect that the tumor is a Heart Based Hemangiosarcoma, a very bad, aggressive, tumor. Here is the the link I posted about it shortly after he was diagnosed;
http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98199

We were also told us there was NOTHING we could do for him, just enjoy every minute we have with him because his time is VERY limited. I am beyond devastated, my heart physically aches and I cannot imagine living my life without him.

Since his diagnosis he has had a few more "episodes" but has managed to hang on for now. He is courrently on Sota 80mg 1/2 tablet twice daily; this is to help control the VPC's he has due to the tumor. A coworker of mine also told me about soomething called Artemisinin, it supposed to help people and animals with cancer. She had two bottles that were going to expire and did not need them so she gave them to me. I honestly believe that it is helping him and that is the reason he is still with us now. I actually just bought another bottle of it and I'm waiting for it to arrive. Is it really working??? Who knows!!! However, I will continue to use it. His doctor is very suprised that he is still hanging on esp because of the size of the tumor.

I am so SORRY you have to face this horrible diagnosis. I know too well the pain and devastation you are dealing with. I have been living the last 7 1/2 weeks in fear because I know the tumor can/will rupture at any given minute and I will lose him. I hope you have many more weeks to share with your baby, enjoy every minute with him. Again I am so sorry. If you need to talk or have any questions, please let me know.

((((HUGS))))

 

[kazsmom]

We just lost a boxer to this exact same thing. My heart goes out to you. We had Isabelle on Sota, twice a day, and it seemed to help with her "episodes", but the tumor eventually took her from us.

I don't have any words of advice. Just wanted to let you know that I know how you feel...constant worrying and wondering. Please know you'll be in my thoughts and prayers...

Angie

 

[boxers4life2001]

Angie,

I hope you don't mind me asking (these are diffiucult questions for you) but how long did Isabelle live since she was diagnosed? Was her quility of life good up until the day she passed? Did her tumor rupture or did she just go down hill? Since I am currently going through the same thing with Chance, I'm just trying to get a picture of what to expect. I'm so sorry to hear about Isabelle ((hugs))

 

[Britbox]

I'm so sorry to hear of your bad news...and just wanted to send my love and prayers to you at this time.
I know what you are going through right now, because, although Millie doesn't have the same condition, she does have a severe Aortic Stenos, and has lived all her life on borrowed time..today is her 6th Birthday...a day I thought I'd never see..We have been lucky to keep her for this long, and I know full well, as does my cardilogist that any day could be her last, so I have cherished every last second with her..So believe me I know how worried you are..and am sending you strength to cope with this, and lots of love, and the hope that your baby will be with you for a long time yet.. I have also lived through the nightmare of a Boxer with a terminal cancer....Any time you need to 'talk' we are all here to support you, and understand how you feel.