SPLENIC HEMANGIOSARCOMA! AFTER SURGERY DO CHEMO OR NOT????? - Page 2

gemco....

Dogs tend to do quite well with the treatment for Lympho.  Working at the vet I've seen several who have gotten at least a year if not more.  A couple even two or three years out with it. 

It's one of the cancers that I would treat with chemo......

Kathy

This question came up last week on a veterinary professional's forum, and here's what the head oncologist @ Colorado State had to say on the subject:

"With splenectomy alone, the average dog with hemangiosarcoma does well for about 2 months. With splenectomy followed by doxorubicin, the average dog does well for about 6 months. Less than 10% of patients are alive at a year, with or without chemo."

When it comes to chemo for dogs, serious consideration must be given to the potential risks presented by the doxorubicin, which must be administered intravenously at a very slow rate, meaning the dog must remain still and not disturb the IV catheter for the duration of the infusion...the catheter has to remain undisturbed for at least 10 minutes, but it could be longer, depending on the dose being given and the flow rate chosen.  Should the catheter become dislodged from the vein, the drug can infiltrate the tissue surrounding the vein.  This will cause the affected tissue to ulcerate and die, resulting in a very painful injury to the dog's leg that may require repeated debriding and treatment, excisional surgery, skin grafting, or even amputation...and for some dogs, the pain from the tissue damage is too severe for them to endure the treatment attempts, and euthanasia ends up being the kindest option for them.  This extravasation risk is probably my biggest concern considering whether or not I'll do chemo for one of my dogs.

Not saying you shouldn't do it...just be sure you know the risks versus benefits involved before you make a decision. Whatever you decide, I wish you and your boy all the best, and know you'll be treasuring every day you spend together no matter what.  I lost my first GSD to this disease, and it's taken away far too many dogs who belonged to friends but who were as dear to me as my own...your sadness is broadly shared, unfortunately.

I am very sorry that you and your boy have to go through this.

I went through the same with my boy, when he was 7 years old.
They also told me that it looked clean everywhere else and gave him a fairly good prognosis.
His quality of life was excellent after the op. He was back to his old self again.
Unfortunately, this only lasted for 1 month, before I found him collapsed one day.
He was in shock and bleeding heavily inside. I had to let him go.

I did not go through the Chemo. with him, but from the information you have posted, it does not seem like an option I would go for.

I agree with Hodie, enjoy the time you have left with your boy. Cherish each and every moment.

I wish you the best of luck with whatever direction you choose.

Julie

I lost my soul dog to this in 30 minutes... I opted to give him sleep before he bled to death.  We could have gone in and got his spleen out, but I said no.  As it was at his pm it was found that he was riddled, there were tumours on his heart his lungs...it was everywhere.  I made a decision that was right for my dog, and when I did a part of me died with him, but I am glad I made that decision, because I know I would just have been prolonging the inevitable if I'd tried to save him.

My advice to anyone that has to suffer this, make the decision thats right for your dog, do not try to save your dog because you want to.  Think about the dog, because you are going to lose that dog anyway.  Whether it's in 3 weeks or 3 months... You're dog is 'dead' from the second that diagnosis is made.

And yeah i can honestly say it still hurts now almost 2 years later, but I know I did the right thing.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPLIES!

AFTER MUCH DELIBERATION, I'VE DECIDED TO GO AHEAD WITH CHEMOTHERAPY FOR NANUQ ...FOR MANY REASONS:
- FIRST AND FOREMOST I NEED TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR NANUQ
- I CAN NOT SECOND GUESS MYSELF
- I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH AS WELL AS TAKE ALL THE RESPONSES INTO CONSIDERATION
- I HAVE CONSULTED WITH 3 VETS AND A VET ONCOLOGIST
- NANUQ IS ONLY 9 1/2 YRS OLD AND ASIDE FROM HIS RECENT SPLENECTOMY IS IN EXCELLENT HEALTH. ( NO SIGN OF THE HEMANGIOSARCOMA ANYWHERE EXCEPT THE SPLEEN ), HAS NO HEART DISEASE, HAS EXCELLENT HIPS, BLOODWORK 1 WEEK POST-OP IS PERFECT, HE IS ALWAYS FULL OF ENERGY, YOUNG AT HEART AND QUITE THE CHARACTER!
- MY VET HAS HAD MANY 'PATIENTS' ENJOY LONGER LIVES AFTER CHEMO THAN THE SOBERING STATISTICS INDICATE
- DOGS TOLERATE CHEMO MUCH BETTER THAN HUMANS
- IF BY CHANCE CHEMO DOES NOT AGREE WITH NANUQ I CAN ALWAYS STOP IT!
- IF I DON'T DO ANYTHING STATISTICS SAY THAT DOGS WITH HEMANGIOSARCOMA OF THE SPLEEN LIVE 1 - 3 MONTHS AFTER A SPLENECTOMY ....NOT VERY GOOD ODDS!
- NANUQ DESERVES BETTER ODDS AS HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TROOPER SURVIVING A TWISTED STOMACH AND NOW AN INTERNAL BLEED, HEMANGIOSARCOMA AND THE REMOVAL OF HIS SPLEEN !

SO NOW HE'S GOING TO GO 3 FOR 3 !!!


CHEERS TO ALL !!

ZEN

I'VE POSTED SOME PICTURES OF NANUQ IN THE "GENERAL ARTICLES" SECTION UNDER "WHITE SHEPHERDS"

CHEERS!!!

Good luck with his treatment.  

NANUQ HAD HIS FIRST ROUND OF CHEMO THIS PAST WEEK AND SO FAR SO GOOD! ...NO AFTER EFFECTS FROM THE TREATMENT AND HE'S BEING HIS USUAL SELF!! HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE THE NORM!
CHEERS!!!