It is very important to do what we can to avoid ongoing depression when trying to cope with cancer in our dogs. Ongoing depression is exhausting, steals our reserves, and clouds judgment.
It decreases your dog’s chances of good life quality during a life with cancer. Yes, your ongoing depression.
Please do not misunderstand me. There are many legitimate reasons for guardians of dogs with cancer to be depressed.
Here are some of these reasons:
Take a look at median survival times with conventional care (chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery):
- Hemangiosarcoma of the spleen: median survival time after spleen removal without chemo is about 2 months, and with chemo is up to 6 months.
- Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the bladder: median survival time on piroxicam alone is about 6 months.
- Melanoma of the toes: following removal of the affected toe, this cancer will take the life of half the patients within a year, assuming there is no evidence for spread at the time of surgery.
- Lymphosarcoma: patients receiving the Wisconsin chemo protocol have a median survival of roughly 6-10 months.
(For more specific data on median survival times with different cancers and protocols, see The Dog Cancer Survival Guide.)
So there is every reason to have sadness. But….continued sadness is not helpful to you or to your dog. After experiencing the grief, it is time for an expectation analysis. Time to organize yourself and move forward.
Suppose your dog was diagnosed with lymphosarcoma, and seems to be having good overall life quality 6 months later. Guess what? This is very good news! Median life expectancy with chemo being 6-10 months, about half the dogs with lympho have passed away in as little as 6 months after being diagnosed.
And that is with chemotherapy!
If you have a dog with lympho and your dog is doing well 6 months after diagnosis, you are already beating the curve, since median survival is as low as 6 months in some cases with the chemo.
What if your dog has lympho and is on pred only? Median survival for those dogs is roughly 2 or 3 months. So you are ahead of the game if your dog has good life quality 2 months after diagnosis.
If you were to look at some of the other statistics above, you can see that if you had a dog who underwent spleen removal 8 weeks ago, is not on chemo, and is still maintaining, you are beating the odds. This is very, very good news. This is successful treatment!
An integration of these statistics in one’s mind allows for a realistic picture of where we stand with conventional cancer care.
We really must take into account how short these survival times are in our expectations! We need to redefine success in malignant cancer management.
An understanding of these figures also tells us how we are doing with the addition of our “outside the box” treatments discussed here and in The Guide.
Once we get past the grim reality of these numbers, we can alter our expectations and begin appreciation with gratitude.
The practice of gratitude for each of these days, realizing the odds, is they key to avoiding continued sadness.
Best to all of you,
Dr D
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Hi Dr. D-
I bought your book and read it all very quickly. Thank you for writing it and doing all the research!
My Aussie Shep/ Black Lab mix (Toby) was diagnosed with Histiocytic Sarcoma (by biopsy of the tissue)on Feb 24th, after limping on his left front leg for a few weeks. As you suggested in your book, I got a second opinion by a professor/ vet at UC Davis. He suggested that I do an additional “CD18 staining” of the tissue as there are two types of cancer that form in the elbow joints- Histiocytic Sarcoma and Synovial Cell Sarcoma. We should have the results of that back today or tomorrow.
On 3/5, we did additional tests to see if the cancer had spread- they did ultrasound and unrinalisis. They also tried to aspirate the lymph node, but it was really small and not easily reached, so they could not aspirate. They were pleased to see that metastasis is not present in the tests, ans seems to be localized.
They think the best thing to do is to amputate and follow with chemo. I know that this type of cancer is aggressive and micrometastasis is probable. Do you know of studies or research that shows average life expectancy for HS based on the following options (and do you know average costs):
1. Amputation/ Chemo
2. Radiation/ Chemo
3 Chemo alone
4. Alternative/ Hollistic approach alone
Just trying to make the best decision for my sweet little Toby. I would say I’m in Category B, as described in your book- but my husband is more in Category C.
Thanks for any advice you can give.
Christina
One more thing, Toby is taking Previcox, and is walking just fine with it. He is so far a happy camper- still eating, walking, etc. I changed his diet to your cancer diet and started on Omega 3′s and some supplements. I will be making appt with Holistic Vet this week.
Thanks,
Christina
Moose!!
It will be almost a year since my Moose-Buddy was diagonosed with a tumor on his liver that was so big that the vet said that they would have to remove the liver along with the tumor. They sewed him back up and I took him home. They gave him a month to six weeks to live. He also had a tumor in his sinuses, which the vets cauterized. They thought that this one would come back, but it has not so far (thank God), and Mr. Moose is still White and Fluffy and very happy. He has not been able to regain the weight he lost last year, but he has not lost any more, either. I had him on the K-9 immunity and a whole slew of things recommemded in Dr. Dressler’s book. I am just so very happy that he is still with me and still happy. He turned 13 in January He even tried to chase a rabbit the other night! He might very well have caught him, if it weren’t for his ever-so-slow Mommy. Thanks for letting me share
Dear Teresa,
thank you for this wonderful news. I am so very pleased to hear that your Moose has beaten the odds by such a huge margin!! WOW
What steps have you taken? The readers would love to know.
Best,
Dr D
I used many of the methods that you suggested in your book–luteolin, parsley, and I did some research on the K-9 immunity and found the clinical studies validated the claims. (I am an RN). Unfortunately, the day that Dr. Tanner told me would came caught up to him yesterday–the tumor had burst and he was bleeding out. His red cell count was down to 14, he was no longer eating, he couldn’t take more than a few steps without having to lay down, and we decided that it was time to send him to The Bridge. Dr. Tanner said that it would be only a matter of days for him, and he really wasn’t “Moose” anymore. So I made that most difficult and terrible of decisions that we all have to make for our beloved canine companions, and I very tearfully, agonizingly, sent him to heaven.
Rest in Peace, my Big White Fluffy Moose. Say “HI” to Tecumseh and Kiena, and save a place for Mommy–for heaven and earth and all of eternity with be utterly worthless without your angelic presences.
Thank you, Dr. D., for providing me with the tools to give my Moose-buddy an extra 15 months of quality life here in the corporeal realm.
Thinking of you Theresa-
all my best,
D
My dogs surgeon said that the average lifespan for a dog with lung cancer (carcinoma-primary tumor) is about one year after his lung lube is removed. Is this set in stone? I can not bare the thought of every day after his surgery thinking about how close it is getting to the end. Should I opt not to have the surgery and try other methods of fighting the cancer?
hi…my Italian Greyhound, spindle, is suffering with a very large mass in his abdomen. he is very anemic (16%), and his ultra sound, according to the vet, reveals that his tumor is too large and complex for surgery. He has lost alot of weight. Today is the first day he turned away from food…although I was able to get him to eat some yogurt. He can get up on his own for water and can relieve himself on his own. He is very, very weak though. I want to let nature take its course, but not if it means he will greatly suffer. Is it ok to wait this out? Is there anything I can do to relieve any discomfort. If he starts to struggle breathing…is there anything I can do to help? I am sad beyond belief…Kippy
Dear Kippy,
I am thinking that maybe these posts might help you in this hard time:
http://www.dogcancerblog.com/life-quality-in-dog-cancer-dr-dresslers-joys-of-life-scale/
http://www.dogcancerblog.com/manageable-challenges-and-life-quality/
http://www.dogcancerblog.com/time-and-the-joys-of-life-in-dog-cancer/
http://www.dogcancerblog.com/pain-in-dog-cancer-and-life-quality-part-2/
http://www.dogcancerblog.com/pain-in-dog-cancer-and-life-quality-part-2/
I hope these make things easier,
Best
Dr D
Dear Dr. Dressler, My 12 yr old italian greyhound has a large mass/tumor on his abdomen. the first vet we went to said it was very large and we should consider putting him to sleep. The 2nd vet we went to did blood work that showed he is very anemic (12%). The 3rd vet we went to did an ultrasound and said the mass was too large to operate. So, we don’t know if it is cancer or not…but the vet believes it is. Our initial visit was 3 weeks ago. I came close to putting him to sleep, but have opted to let nature take its course. He is not in pain, is calm, breathing normally, drinks plenty of water, eats yogurt which I forfify with fish oil and echinecia and goldenseal. He also eats fresh chicken and turkey and I give him a multi vitiman for senior dogs which he loves. He is very, very thin and weak, but is calm. He hasn’t had a bowel movent in 2 days, and he struggles to have a bowel movement with no results. Is there anything more I can do for him? At this point I feel like I’m providing him with palliative care, and would like to give him things to bring about relief. I’m scared that the mass will burst and he will suffer. Also, is there anything I can give him to help him have a bowel movement? Thankyou so very much…Kippy
Dear Kippy,
Sorry to hear this news. It sounds like you are in the “life quality care” arena. You should be thinking about Yunnan Baiyao, the dog cancer diet (free download), pain control (tramadol), fluids (your vet can show you how to administer them under the skin), apocaps, and the other steps for improving life quality in the Guide. You should find out if he is constipated or if he is passing less stool due to less appetite, or if he is straining to defecate because his colon is inflamed, or if there is less stool because of dietary changes. Certainly there are many stool softeners that can be used if there is constipation like lactulose, kristalose and miralax.
Best
Dr D
Dear Dr Dressler,
My name is Diane and my big beautiful Great Dane, Tundra, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma on Monday. Chest x-ray shows no masses in his lungs. His vet put him on 50mg Deramaxx 1xday and 200mg Tramadol 2xday. Yesterday I started him on Artemisinin, 200mg 2xday. His cancer (still hard to get that word out) is in his right front ankle. Now (past 2 days or so) he seems to be getting very weak in his back end. Is this a new issue arising? Is he too heavily medicated? Does he need that much pain medication?
I’m beside myself. He has always acted like a puppy, even at 8 years old! To see him hobble is heart wrenching for me. I didn’t see this coming and feel as though I’ve been hit by a truck.
Thank you for your time,
Diane & Tundra
Dear Diane,
I am very sorry to hear about this. Pain in the back end may or may not be cancer. Many times it is not. There are a variety reasons for it and you need to get it straitened out at your vet’s as unfortunately I cannot diagnose here.
Hang in there, but get it taken care of.
Best,
D
My 12 1/2 year old dog was kenneled while we were away. The second day at the kennel the vet called and said our dog was very anemic and need to be xrayed to determine if she had a tumor. My dog is short of breathe and has pale gums. Other than these two symtoms, my dog has no other changes in her eating or sleeping habits. I have been reading the various articles and blogs about anemia and possible results. Are there other alternatives that can be exercised other than surgery. Can my dog be given iron supplements?
Dear Cathy,
sorry to hear this news. In dogs, anemia is not a primary disease. The cause must be determined. Ultrasound is usually better than an X-ray for looking at the abdomen if we choose between them. Of course other blood work and a urine test was done?? Until the diagnosis is reached it is impossible to recommend a treatment since anemia is caused by so many different things in dogs..i am sorry..
D
My almost 13 yr old maltese was just diagnosed with cutaneous t-cell lymphoma. She has sores and scaling pretty much all over. I have been told conventional chemo is not effective on this. She is on prednesone and pepcid at moment. The vet suggested palladia. What do you think?
My 7 year old bulldog Sarge just had 80% of two liver lobes removed from two baseball size tumors. He was just diagnosed with Neuroendocrine Liver Cancer. I was told this is very rare cancer and not real sure how to treat. Sarge has had diarrhea since early May and since the surgery May 20th, still loose (soup) stools. He does have appetite and wants togo on walks and play. I wanted to know how long he may have (weeks?) and when and how do I decide to put him down. I do not want my dog to suffer. He is my friend and companion and I will be lost without my guy but I will not let him suffer. Please help guide me through the last weeks or days as to what to expect and how long. Thank you
Dear Priscilla,
I am so sorry to hear of your Sarge.
Although I would like to be able to tell you when your dog will pass away, I cannot, just as an MD cannot tell for a human patient. But, I would start thinking as you are- considering and preparing yourself. There are ways to help his diarrhea like metronidazole, tylan, slippery elm, and treatments in the Guide that can help like glutamine and diet change. Have your vet supervise treatments. I hope you have him on the Dog Cancer Diet?? Immune support? Also I would suggest some of the coping exercises in the Guide that can help a lot with the emotional aspects of dealing with this and clarify the when’s and why’s. I would also read this blog post (click here).
I hope this helps
Dr D
Dear Barbara,
Lomustine gives us about 3 months of improvement but most dogs improve. But, Accutane helps dogs 40-50% of the time (less than Lumostine) yet we get a much longer interval of control when they respond (around 8 months). I would also discuss the safflower oil- print out this abstract for your vet- click here. Finally, I would definitely be taking the other steps discussed in the Guide, like apoptogens and diet change, under veterinary supervision.
Best,
Dr D
HI Dr. Dressler,
On June 1st I took my very young,1 1/2 year old German Shepherd, Abby, to the vet for a swelling below her right eye. The vet did a biopsy and found the entire posterior upper buccal maxillary area rubbery.
The lab results showed a microscopic findings: Sarcoma, intermediate Grade with a prognosis of: Guarded. Comments from the Lab reports states the primary differential for this intermediate grade sarcoma is poorly productive osteosarcoma. Oncongenic stimuli for oral osteosarcomas are not known. Surgical excision, even radical, is the treatment of choice.
My vet is not giving much advice other than advising that treatment is very costly. I suggested surgery, he replied that he would not do it and that I would have to seek the advice of a veterinary oncologist. My Abby, at this time, is very active and eating well.
Would you please provide me with suggestions? Anything is helpful since I am just learning about this cancer.
Thank you.
Dayna and Abby Amsler
Dr. Dressler,
Lola was diagnosed with mast cell tumors approximately 7 yrs ago. She is now 12 or 13 yrs old.(she was a stray and I’ve had her 11 yrs). During this course of time I’ve removed between 60 and 70 tumors. Approximately four months ago she began having problems; difficult swallowing and stomach issues. A new bump was diagnosed as soft tissue sarcoma. Given the area, the oncologist did not feel it would spread but it would become larger. Since then, the turmor has disappeared. Her overall health, blood panels, ultra-sounds and recent x-rays, normal.
When is it time to stop removing the tumors. She eats normal, has the energy of a younger dog, yet the mast cell tumor issue isn’t going away. I need advice.
As sad as this may sound to you but I love Lola more than I have anything or anyone in my life. So I am trying to be the best companion to her.
Thank you
Hi Dr. Dressler,
My 17 y/o dog is just diagnosed with probable hemangiosarcoma and confirmed IBD from her clinical presentation, blood test, x-rays, echo, endoscopy, fine needle biopsy result, and repeated ultrasounds. For 3 weeks she was started on prednisone and metronidazole for her IBD. Per repeated ultrasound the 2.4×3.2cm primary mass in the left lateral lobe liver doubled the size in 3 weeks with new cavitation shown after the biopsy. I was struggled to start the surgical intervention due to her age even if she had been in good health until the recent collapse this May. She recovered from the collapse but not eat as much as before due to her problem complicated by IBD (although she never had diarrhea prior to the collapse). I opt for chemo and she has gone through the first course well. I also have read your Dog Cancer Survival Guide and incorporated that into the cancer fighting battle. I have searched the web a lot and find little info regarding primary liver hemangiosarcoma. The question I have is do you have any cases with primary liver hemangiosarcoma without image evidence of met? Would surgical resection a better choice in the early stage of cancer developing in my dog’s case? Would prednisone for IBD interfere with Doxorubicin or simply promote the growth of HSA? greatly appreciated.
Dear Catherine, these tumors can increase in size a lot (and also sometimes shrink) depending on the amount of blood within the cavity of the tumor. Surgery is advisable if you want to deal with this as HSA in the liver and elsewhere can rupture and this by itself can be life threatening. I would not worry too much about the pred promoting the HSA. I would definitely consider the use of Apocaps (1/4 to 1/2 dose with the dox and a full meal if using pred) as well as yunnan baiyao for bleeding, all under veterinary guidance and contingent on liver function tests.
Best,
Dr D
Dear Russ,
you should read the life quality analysis section and also decide where you stand in terms of the kind of guardian you are. If you have not read the decision-making portion of the Guide, I would do so. I would also contemplate Neoplasene as an option, along with Apocaps and the Dog Cancer Diet, all under veterinary supervision.
Best,
DR D
Dear Dr Dressler,
Thank you for your reply. My 17 y/o dog Zai Zai received doxo but failed the treatment according to the post 2wk f/u UTZ which shows the primary liver HSA remains the same size in left lobe of liver but with new mass in right lobe of liver with other diffuse hypoechoic nodules. The vet didn’t see it anywhere else in the body at this time. The vet gave us options: 1) add cisplatin to doxo 2) try carbo, 3) try palladia as if treating liver cancer since there is no definitive biopsy 4) do nothing except care. We started a new chemo Carboplatin (even if you mentioned the rescue chemo is not as good as I just read) instead of doxo+cisplatin as this new one is our last hope even if it has less successful rate per stat. She has started Apocap with her cancer diet. It is her day three on Carbo and she seems to tolerate it well except a bit nausea and decreased appetite but Mirtazapine helps. I am not sure if I make a right decision for choosing a rescue agent instead of combo chemo. Is Apocaps a good chemosensitizer to Carbo too? What is your thoughts about treatment failure with chemo? again any reply greatly appreciated.
Dear Dr. Dressler,
Four months ago my beloved 8-year-old French Bulldog was diagnosed with a high-low maxillary fibrosarcoma. Even before I brought her to the vet (who in turn referred me to an oncologist), I knew something was seriously wrong. I’d been brushing my Frenchie’s teeth from the time she was a puppy and therefore familiar with her oral cavity… I noticed a gradual swelling in the right maxillary region. Right off the bat I was told that surgery was out of the question based on the tumor characteristics; the benefits of radiation, I was told, amounted to an average of 4 months progression-free survival. I explored cryoablative surgery, but assessment ruled her out as an “ideal candidate.” I explored a chemo-embolization procedure — and she was actually anesthetized in preparation for it — but the procedure was aborted based on the relevant blood vessels being too small. Cyberknife might have yielded some benefit, but I decided that if high-low’s are generally resistant to radiotherapy, that technique would not be a magic bullet. I’ve had her on a homemade high-protein/low carb diet and put her on Apocaps and recently prednisone which my vet recommended. The prednisone has been VERY helpful, but I’m afraid the tumor is starting to affect her breathing (her right nostril is virtually closed due to tumor growth). As a Frenchie she already has breathing issues… so how cruel is that! This tumor is SO frustrating, because aside from the disfigurement and asymetry in her face, she’s her happy playful self. But I know it’s only a matter of time. Now on to my question, in your experience, what, if anything can be done about a histologically low grade/biologically high grade fibrosarcoma?? Is there anything that could help her aside from what I’m we’re already doing for her? And doctor, one last thing. Is it at all possible that the weekly teeth brushing precipitated the development of this cancer? I know how illogical that sounds, but the fact that I took such good care of her teeth all those years, and then she went on to develop a tumor so uncharacteristic of her breed… it’s just a bitter irony that I’ll have to live with for the rest of my life. Why THERE? Why her? Thank you!!
Dear Andrew,
I am so sorry to hear about this. I am sure you have read the Guide? After this, I would consider adding Neoplasene topically, or inhaled injectable through a vaporizor, and oral, as well as oral artemisinin. All should be done with veterinary supervision. I would also add in some beta glucans (K-9 immunity, non-flavored formulation).
best,
Dr D
Dear Catherine,
since you have started the carbo i think you should see how it works. Are you consulting with an oncologist? I would suggest this if not as they do chemo all day and can tailor the chemo to the dog pretty effectively. There have been no studies on carbo with the apoptogens in apocaps, although as you know the cisplatin and carbo are closely related.
I hope this helps-
D
Hi Dr. Dressler,
Thanks for your prompt reply. Yes my dog has been seen by oncologist since the collapse in May and these advices were provided by the oncologist. It’s been one week since starting Carboplatin after failing doxo. My dog’s RBC has been slowly dropping (Hct=20) and now with microcytic anemia ( it was anemia but with normocytic and normochromic) and she was given iron shot today and the oncologist may start her on some SC injection to stimulate RBC production. I am guessing that the HSA in liver is taking up too much of blood and iron. Do I have to be very careful with some blood thinning supplements and diet such as ginger, krill oil, and digestive enzymes as mentioned in your guide? As you mentioned previously to decrease Apocaps with prednisone, now she is switched to budesonide 2mg QD for her IBD which shows improvement now, does the same decreased dosage of Apocaps apply to budesonide 2mg?
And does famotidine have the same anticancr effect as cimentidine? Thanks very much!
Dear Dr. Dressler,
My beautiful Bison frise was diagnoised today after a sonagram of neoplasia of the spleen liver and kidneys, the vet thinks the cancer may have spread to the brain as he had a ceasure two weeks ago, last week after the xray I jumpted on your website and I have been feeding Teddy your cancer diet and started him on 4000mg of Turmeric/curcumin 1000mg fish oil and garlick oil. I am desprate to help him he is only 10years old can you suggest anything else that might extend his life? He is still active and happy and is not in any pain. I feed him three times a day as he is starving and has gone from 19lbs to 13lbs. Please help us! what else can you suggest? am I giving him the right amoumt of Turmeric fish oil etc? I am so desprate please let me know if there is more I can do.
Thank You
Christy & Teddy Steil
Dear Catherine,
I would not worry all that much with the ginger and krill, but you need to check with your vet. Yes, drop the dose of Apocaps with budesonide (use together under veterinary supervision. No famotidine does not have the same effects seen in the “test tubes” as cimetidine.
Best
D
Dear Christy,
It seems that you are making some guesses about the supplements to use. Have you read the Guide? Are you using all of your available conventional options? No chemo? How about appetite stimulants (mirtazipine, cerenia, etc)? Are you using apoptogens? Immune support? I would not be giving garlic oil as we don’t know the amount of the actives that can cause hemolytic anemia. A little garlic is okay in the recipe as you see. You can also search this blog by using the search bar on the upper right.
I would start by focusing there-
Hope this helps
Best
D
Dear Dr. Dressler,
Thank you for the strong article “Guardian v.s. lover in dog cancer”. I agree sometimes love, hope, and pray aren’t enough if there is no solid action taken to fight the actual enemy. And I think TIME is the most critical part in the cancer fighting process. My 17 y/o dog dx’d with possible HSA in the liver just left me after 2 months and 10 days of battle. My dog had gone thru chemo with doxo and later carbo and was started with cancer diet right away and full spectrum approaches as soon as available. However her IBD caused by cancer and decreased appetite from chemo made her very picky to cancer diet and I had to make it to puree to feed her with syringes when she refused healthy food. Her cancer was too aggressive and resistant to be suppressed and eventually it took her life this past Monday even if only by local invasion in the liver without signs of metastasis per close follow up UTZs. I witnessed her dying half way rushing into ER. That was fast. I regret that I didn’t insist on surgery which was not preferred per vets due to her age. I always though my dog would die of normal aging since she was healthy until the collapse. I wish I would have read your guide earlier in my dog’s senior life to earn knowledge of cancer and to prepare for the unknown. Thank you.
It has been a week since my girl left me but it feels like yesterday. On the day she was dying, she was still getting up drinking, wandering in the backyard and just accidentally peeing in her bed which she rarely did. I am looking at all the supplements left behind with tears, tears, and tears endlessly. We lost the battle. I know there is no cure for cancer but an end for life but we fought for it. People say my girl was so much luckier than other stray dogs and she had a long life but for me there is no comparison. She was, is , and will be my girl. I am hoping there will be a cure for HSA and all other kinds of cancer someday, in the near future.
Dear Catherine,
I am so sorry to hear about this. Thinking of you during this time of departures.
All my best
Dr D
Hello doctor
My dog has a tumor we took her to a vet they said it was just a fatty tumor, but i read on this website that most fatty tumors are soft and feels like jello. My dogs tumor feels hard and stiff and you cant move around under the skin. Is it really a fatty tumor? Or something else??
Thank you Dr. D What great information.
CATHERINE – if your still reading this site please email me on amanda23@bigpond.net.au.
Would love to talk to you about your experience as my dog is going through the same thing.
Dear Kara,
this might be a good post for you to read:
http://www.dogcancerblog.com/i-found-a-lump-on-my-dog-now-what/
I hope it helps!
D
Hi Dr. Dressler,
Our 5 yr old English Bulldog Bear just got diagnosed with low grade lymphoma of the duodenum. He has lost a lot of weight (17 pds) since the first week of May. He was 59 pds and now is 42pds. He eats great for us and likes to go on walks and play with his toys still. Our vet says the weightloss is significant b/c it is a intestinal cancer and he is having malabsorption b/c of it. He has soft stools all the time. What can we do to help his stools get back to normal? I have started to cook for him giving lean beef and vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower) with omega 3′s, probiotics, digestive enzymes, and a multivitamin With his situation being so young and the cancer being low grade would you do chemo treatment if it was your dog?
Are you serious doctor???? Pretty heartless honestly i’ll highly do not recomm.
your site
Dear Dan,
yes, I am. On the contrary, my heart is very much in place. Cancer, on the other hand, is heartless. However, in spite of the numbers that are published for survival times, there is much that can be done to help, in many cases beating these numbers and living through this experience in a way that holds no regrets for our selves or for our loved dogs.
D
Dear Nick
I am concerned about a couple of things. First, the problem is not his loose stools, it is the cancer cells in his body causing the loose stools. I am worried that we have perhaps not given chemotherapy the consideration it is due? In the Guide there is an extensive discussion of treatment plan analysis…might be worth checking out for you. Here we examine normal life expectancy and gained life expectancy from treatment. Your Bear is much younger than his normal life expectancy. Depending on the classification of the lymphoma, median life expectancy with chemo might be 10, 11, or more months, depending on what papers you read, and most will respond to the chemo. This will bring him closer to his normal life expectancy. If he were past his normal life expectancy, you might be more prone to avoid chemo.
Also, I am wondering about the supplement selection. There are a host of other supplements that have a bit more merit specific for cancer that you might be checking into that have undergone extensive analysis and review. These include the apoptogens, beta glucans, modified citrus pectin, and many others. I would get an oncologist involved and also take some time to read the Guide- it will help this path you and Bear are on.
Best,
Dr D
To Dan –
Are YOU serious? I’d love to hear you enumerate some of your “points” regarding why Dr. Dressler is heartless. As he notes in his response, there is much that can be done and, as someone who’s pup has been diagnosed with bladder TCC, I want to hear about any and all options. Sure, I may decide that options provided may not be what I want, and I may even think that some of them are ridiculous, but I want to know about them. Anything that may give me some hope is something I want to hear about.
Most of what I’ve read in Dr. Dressler’s book regarding diet and supplements as agressive responses to fighting cancer seem as valid to me as most of the “traditional” therapies. The most successful therapy for bladder TCC is piroxicam combined with mitoxantrone chemotherapy. And the success rate for this protocol is approximately 35% – in other words, a roughly two in three chance that it WON’T have any effect which, unfortunately for my little girl, turned out to be the case. So, now, having found Dr. Dressler’s book later than I would have wished, I’m working on what it will take to get her on his diet and supplement program. Even if it doesn’t have any effect, Dan, can you tell me how his information is more, “heartless,” than traditional vets and oncologists who will only consider therapies that, even when successful, carry the risk of side effects that can make the dog’s quality of life such that the cure is as bad as, or worse than, the remedy?
On another blog entry, one of the commenters indicates in her response that her vet won’t consider alternative therapies because he doesn’t want to give her, “false hope.” One of the things I’ve learned is that ANY hope, and ANY action, that gives me the chance to fight for my little girl, is one that I’m going to try. Not only does it help me focus on something positive, it keeps my mind off of the sorrow that I will inevitably have to face, even if it’s just for a short time.
Sadly, I’m sure you won’t see this response to your comment, since you likely won’t be back to this site. And that’s fine. That’s your choice, But for me, I’m choosing to learn, to fight, and to hope, and that means searching with an open mind. No, I won’t be looking into the power of crystals, or “miracle” cures, but since these aren’t the things that Dr. Dressler is promoting, and since he also provides clear medical rationale and/or statistics around the therapies he does promote, his guidance doesn’t fall under snake oil salesmanship, but under reasoned investigation.
It sounds like you’ve choosen to give up. I’m sorry for you in that regard, but angry as well that you seem to think that the rest of us should give up as well. But if I’m wrong, and you do see this, again, please feel free to tell the rest of us why we should give up on hope for our loved ones. I suspect, though, that the only person you’ll convince to do so will be yourself.
To Dr. Dressler – sorry for the rant, and kudos to you for your response. But I actually took his criticism as a jab at all of us, not just yourself, and as I said, I’m angry about that, and wanted to let him know that.
Dr. Dressler,
My baby chopper 10 year old bulldog was diagnosed with lymphoma 2 weeks ago monday. He showed no signs other then a mild cough after he would play and his left submandibular lymph node with swelling. We took him to our vet and after blood work and aspirate of lymph node it came back that he had lymphoma. She immediately sent us to a oncologist in los angeles where they recommended the Wisconsin protocol. They stated that dogs do not have the side effects like people do when receiving CA treatment but that is hard for me to believe. We started him on Pred (they wanted 40mg) and he is 39 lbs. I did not feel comfortable with this dose as I know the side effects of pred. I feel the pred would kill him before the cancer would. So he is on 10mg tapering dose. He has been on for about a week. I am also giving him a fish oil. I have done some research on the k9 immunity and am considering ordering it.
My husband and I decided against the chemo. He seems to be doing great, eating great, playing, drinking. No problems besides mild fatigue but that isnt anything out of the ordinary for him, 10 year old lazy bulldog!!
One question I do have, is it possible that a mistake could have been made on the cytology report? His labs are perfect! They said so perfect that better then a puppy! Would any of these values be elevated with lymphoma? No anemia, lymphocytes normal, everything normal! Chest xray done, nothing significant however I dont think it is a good quality xray. I have noticed that in last couple days the other lymph node has swelled up. But no other in his body. They wanted to do u/s and bone marrow biopsy etc, but that wouldnt change the course of plan or treatment. Only predict his outcome.
This has been a horrible last two weeks. He has bee the light of our lives for 10 years. We have 3 bulldogs and cant imagine life without them! Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Dear Sarah, this is a pretty open ended question and the answer could fill a book..(actually it has, the Guide!)
I wonder whether you have the data on the use of pred for lymphoma? The suppression only lasts for months usually, and then the cancer gets resistant. Don’t be fooled. If you are wondering about the diagnsosis, get a copy of the path report and get a second opinion.
No, the lab work does not necessarily change with early lympho.
After you are satisfied the diagnosis is correct, I might reconsider the chemo to be honest. Get the data you need- 80% of dogs respond, median life expectancy with the chemo is around 10-12 months or more depending on who you read. Chemo side effects do happen but they are rarer than in people.
I would also remind you about the apoptogens, immune support (like the beta glucans in K-9 immunity, among others), higher than normal doses of omega 3′s, melatonin, and the other strategies in the Guide. There is also a section on treatment plan analysis that I think might help you guys a lot.
Hope this helps,
D
Hi,
My cattle dog cross, Suki, 15 1/2 years, became violently ill in Jan and was subsequently diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. At that point, she had a very large splenic tumour.
I brought her home with anti-nausea meds and some pain meds, in case, expecting her to die within weeks. I had no intention of subjecting her to a splenectomy at her age. And she was diagnosed 2 days before my husband’s 5 hour surgery for colon cancer and all the subsequent, iatrogenic complications and surgery it entailed. We said no to chemo for my husband (so little to no benefit with a great deal of horrendous and often permanent side effects).
So I had little time and energy to change a whole lot for her. I didn’t change her diet (already a very good quality feed) or add supplements.
Long story short, although I suspect she’s had a few bleeds, 7 1/2 months later, she is a robust, happy, full of energy dog with little of the normal “old dog” problems even (except for hearing and sight).
I have 2 friends who also had dogs with the same disease, diagnosed about the same time, one who did surgery and chemo, and one who used all alternative practices, both of whose dogs have died.
Chemo is extremely expensive, very stressful for dog and person and highly toxic. Yet, for dogs it supposedly gives a few months. At what cost? And why is this being encouraged? Why has the cancer culture gotten to this extent; where we don’t even question if quality of life is not more important than lengthening it (possibly, although I wonder) by a fraction of a year.
I’d rather see us looking more into why this is happening– perhaps over-vaccination, using vaccines with toxins, people using pesticides, some flea products, feed and so on.
And we need to allow people to use their own judgement and not be guilted into doing something for their dog that their “gut” warns against.
I’m all for doing what we can, in the way of food and supplements. But when we add poisons to their system, with very little evidence of success and much evidence of harm (we have to include the stress to the body the stress to their psyche [going to the vet], and the stress to their humans– both emotionally and financially), then one has to wonder if it isn’t the drug companies who are the ones who’ll do well.
Just looking for any advice. My 11 y/o Pomeranian (Gizmo) was ok one day and violently sick the next. He started vomiting in the middle of the night and I rushed him to the vet the next morning. His labs were awful, anemic, hyperglycemic, high WBC, etc… Diag him with pancreatitis and a tumor on either the spleen, liver, or pancreas…the dr was not certain exactly where it was. He has been at the vet for two days and is responding to the treatment. No more vomiting and scarfed down the small amount of food the dr gave him. The vet said Gizmo probably has three months and of course I am devastated. Please give me any advice on how to make the best of his time with our family.
Dear Jennifer,
one of the first steps is getting a biopsy to find out what type of cancer you are looking at. This may be easiest with either an ultrasound guided biopsy or an exploratory. I would definitely start to read the Guide so you can start getting ready now. The different types of cancer all have different outcomes, and there is data in the book on the different common cancers and their life expectancies. 3 months is a number that is hard to say without this more specific information to be honest with you.
Best
D
My 10 yr. old pitbull was just diagnosed with a tumor on his spleen. His belly is filling with fluid from it. I just dont feel the vet. gave me more options besides surgery and chemo. I dont want to put him through all of the stress of surgery and chemo when they gave him 6 months with and without surgery. I was wondering if he should be on some kind of painkiller and if its possible to drain the fluid.I just feel they didnt give me any idea on what to do so I just feel helpless right now. I dont want him to be in pain or suffer.Any idea on what I should do to make him as comfortable as possible?
His red blood cell count was at 24 but they said his body is fighting because he was regenerating the cells. His liver, heart and everything else is fine.
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