more old dogs and weird news
took trouper to the vet today to have his stitches out...no problem there and the incision is healing beautifully... but the pathology report is not so good...the vet says she has never seen a similar diagnosis and she's been a vet for 25 years....the mass they removed was fat cells, but there were malignant cells between the adipose tissues, and those are graded as level 2, which is not a galloping malignancy, but malignant nonetheless.
treatment options are limited, so we're going to be keeping a close eye on my old boy for a while and hoping that there is no recurrence and also hoping that there are not other growths we haven't, or can't, detect....i won't put him through radiation or steroid treatment, so for now it's just a matter of wait and hope.
- Login to post comments
Replies to This Discussion
- Reply by dachshundlady on February 15, 2012 at 7:18 am
-
How old is your boy? Here's hoping it is really slow moving or the lab made a mistake. DH says it is not unheard of that they DO get it wrong.
- Login to post comments
- Reply by mumpy on February 15, 2012 at 7:38 am
-
he's just about 12...we're not sure of his exact age because he was abandoned, but the vet says he was 6 to 8 months when we got him...she assigned him a birthday of april 1st, because he's a bit of a clown.
i wish i could think it's a mistake, but since the lab report (all 3 pages of it) matches the impression the vet had when she removed the growth, i'm not pinning my hopes on that.
meanwhile, we watch and wait......
.
- Login to post comments
- Reply by GinaG on February 16, 2012 at 5:15 pm
-
Mumpy,
I'm so deeply sorry for the pathology news and will pray that it's the slow-growing, lazy kind of cancer that doesn't have enough time or the energy to stand up to Troupers immune system.
Being that the vet isn't familiar with this kind of malignancy, would s/he be willing to speak directly with the pathologist to get a prognosis? Or can you call the lab? After all, the pathologist sees more specimens and cases than any one single vet, so they would know. And it's only right that your vet would want to tell you what to expect.
I don't know if you share my sentiments on having the truth, but to me, it is preferable over the torture of uncertainty. You remember how I recently agonized over this with my own dog; it is painful.
I'm praying for you and Trouper that this is an isolated incident and he's good as new.
Gina
- Login to post comments
- Reply by mrscindy on February 16, 2012 at 6:00 pm
-
Mumpy, my cat, Saucie, is 10 years old and just last week was diagnosised with a very large lipoma on her spinal column that is putting pressure on her colon. There are also some malignant cells in amongst the begin fat. Surgery, because of the placement, is not an option. I understand exactly where you are. I cannot put her through unnecessary surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. It would only prolong the inevitable and not be very pretty. I really do understand.
Enjoy Trouper. Sounds like he IS a really trouper. 12 years is a long time in dog years. Give him a big hug from me and Saucie.
~Cindy
- Login to post comments
- Reply by mumpy on February 16, 2012 at 6:09 pm
-
i'm big on truth too, gina....they can't scare me any worse than my own imagination can!...the path report did include some recommendations, but after discussing them with my vet, i'm simply not comfortable with them...some of it sounds like pure torture with limited success - the pathologist was very honest about that part of it....i'd much rather have a couple months of good days with a happy dog than 6 months of misery for both of us.
the vet has been terrific...she knows about my limited sensation in my hands and has offered to do a quick check (no charge) on trouper every 2 or 3 weeks if i'm uncertain about anything at all...DH is not very good with this sort of thing.
thanks for the optimism....it's the attitude i'm trying to hold!
- Login to post comments
- Reply by mumpy on February 16, 2012 at 6:15 pm
-
cindy, i'm so sorry to hear about saucie (btw, great name!)....sounds like your thinking is the same as mine on this, though it's harder sometimes to do nothing, isn't it?...wish i had the words to ease this for you, but the best i can offer is a cyber-hug.
- Login to post comments
- Reply by GinaG on February 16, 2012 at 6:37 pm
-
Mumpy, what a nice vet you have, what a difference that makes and what a relief. Maybe Trouper will be his namesake like Bandit and beat the odds: That's what I'm praying for.
Cindy,
I can't imagine more heartbreaking news. I'm praying for you and Saucie, too.
Gina
- Login to post comments
- Reply by tarrka1089 on February 16, 2012 at 8:48 pm
-
Mumpy - no matter the age, we always want our furry four-legged children to be healthy and happy.
As long has Trouper is feeling good, the better days out weigh the not so great, then enjoy each day together.
Trouper knows you love him and will take care of him the best way possible.
Thinking of you and Trouper -
Hazel
- Login to post comments
- Login to post comments
