Help & advice needed Cancer Radio therepy Yes or No?

[joncads]

Safie was today diagnosed with Cancer she has a tumour in her nose, glands and throat.... they cannot be removed! I am totally devistated, I cannot even think about loosing my lovely girl! The vet has given her 2-5 months without treatment or giving radio therepy and increasing her live to 8-24 months. I just wanted to know what you all thought should I put her through it or just make her a happy we dog for the time she has left!

 

[x19er]

I'm so so sorry - what a decision to make. Do you know how hard the radio therapy will be on her, has they vet given you any idea? I hope somebody on the board has experience of this and can give you some advice. There is a big difference between 2 months and 24 months, my gut instinct would be to give her a chance to fight it and go for the therapy.

 

[joncads]

Thanks - I can't even think strait right now all I can do is cry - she is my baby and I just don't want to loose her

 

[Net45582]

I'm sorry you're having to deal with the cancer beast.I have no experience with radio therapy. www.caninecancerawareness.org http://www.wearethecure.net/more_cancer_facts.htm and may have some info

 

[skemball]

radiotherapy

I can only speak to the experience I had had with cats, but generally I have found that the cats we treat at the clinic I work for do well with therpay and some have lived for months and even years with regular treatment. Granted I know dogs are different than cats, but the drugs used are the same. I think as a veterinary nurse, what makes me sad is seeing the animals that are still coming in for therapy even when we can clearly tell their quality of life is going down hill. The vets where i work are willing to tell and owner when they will not treat anymore because the cat's health is too poor. My experience is give the therapy a try as long as she still seems happy and is acting healthy and doing well. Also, if the therapy itself is not too upsetting and difficult for her. Each animal will have a different reaction too the drugs, and having to be in the hospital etc. I think the hardest thing is knowing when to stop, because these are our babies and enough is never enough time, at least not for me. Whatever you decision may be I hope this input from someone administering these treatments was helpful, and I wish you the peace to make this very difficult decision. Cookie and I both send our love and thoughts to you and your sweet baby!

 

[joncads]

Thanks for your advice but I just don't think I can put her through the treatment. She is 8 years old and she is terrified of the vets , we'd also have to travel 6-7 hours in the car for her to have it done as no-one does this is scotland, I don't want to feel like I'm giving up on my baby but I don't want her last months of live to be filled with getting knocked out to get radation therapy. It's just such a hard choice to make!

 

[Austin's Mom]

It is a hard choice to make, and only one you can make for your baby. I personally wouldn't do it for Austin, he's almost 9 and like your baby is terrified of going to the vet. I just wouldn't put him thru it. Good luck with whatever you decide, and give that baby a great big hug and kiss from me and Aus.

 

[Biff]

I'm so sorry you are having to make this decision.

I have no experience, but if the therapy is going to be hard on your baby, IMO it would be kinder not to do it.

I wish you all the best with whatever decision you reach


(((Hugs))))

 

[magsp]

Radiation Therapy

Hi. First of all, I'm sorry that you're having to make this kind of decision right now. It's definitely not an easy one. I just wanted to relate my experience in case it should help you at all.

My situation was a bit different in that my dog was really young (1 year old) and had a mast cell tumor in his groin area. They are thought to be more aggressive in that area and his was removed surgically with dirty margins. Those two facts combined made radiation therapy the recommended follow up. The veterinary oncologist also told me that she thought the surgery combined with radiation therapy would be curative for our dog. We also only lived about 45 minutes away from the radiation facility, so those two thing also made our decision a bit easier.

In any case, our dog had 21 daily radiation treatments, Monday-Friday. He was anesthetized daily for the treatments. He did really well throughout the treatment. He became a bit lethargic about two weeks after the treatment was over and he also had some diarrhea for a few weeks around this same time. He had some radiation burns in the area that was treated, but they didn't seem to bother him much. The whole experience, was really a very positive one with no major side effects or complications. He tolerated the treatment and the anesthesia very well.

All in all, we were very happy with our decision and he is doing really well today...3 years later. I know it's not an easy decision and the answer will be different for each, individual situation and for each, individual animal. Best of luck to you.