Lymphoma

simis · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 2:05 pm Post subject: Lymphoma

Is anyone on here familiar with aggressive lymphoma? A friends dog was recently diagnosed with it and I was hoping to find out more....

Tonia · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 3:24 pm Post subject:

My weim I lost last year had Lymphoma. She survived 17 months with aggressive Lymphoma, it has spread in her central nervous system and was causing a lot of chaos. We chose to do the chemotherapy because thankfully Lymphoma responds very well to chemo and she was able to go in remission three times. Chemo sounds harsh but it really is not or I would not have done it, the dose they use in not high enough to have major side effects, they give a minimum dosage because the goal is not to cure the cancer but to put it in remission and stop it from spreading. Your friend can email if she wants my email is toniahanson@mac.com. It helped me to talk to other people who had went through the same process so I would know what to expect. I can also give her links to some great cancer websites. Tailsofhope.org is a great website, lots of information. Clyda was treated at Auburn University and our local oncologist in Memphis, both were fantastic and so supporting of us and Clyda. Their is a yahoo group called Endless Love, that is just for people with dogs fighting cancer.

weimdogmom · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 5:55 pm Post subject:

On another forum, this Delphi forum has been suggested to members with newly diagnosed dogs by others who have also gone through this with their own dogs.

http://forums.delphiforums.com/petcancer/messages/?start=Start+Reading+%3E%3E

Yahoo also has a group, but I don't know about it. In case your friend is interested: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/CanineCancer/?v=1&t=search&ch=web&pub=groups&sec=group&slk=1

simis · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 6:51 pm Post subject:

Tonia, I'm very sorry you lost your girl to lymphoma and thank you for sharing your story, it is very encouraging to hear that she was with you for an additional 17 months. It can be very difficult to accept cancer and to many it is an immediate death sentence.

Thank you and Weimdogmom for the great suggestions on links and forums, I will certainly pass those onto her.

Again, thank you very much!

Tonia · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 7:40 pm Post subject:

One thing I do suggest to newly diagnosed cancer dogs is to try to surround yourself with positive people, we met with one vet who told me I should not expect Clyda to be living 3 months from her diagnosis date and I needed to accept reality. I changed vets the next day! Our oncologists were all so positive through the whole process and the think the good vibes really made Clyda fight harder! So many of my family members told me I was crazy to consider chemotherapy but I am so glad we decided to do it, Clyda starting showing considerable improvement after the first treatment, her appetite came back, she was chasing squirrels again, I felt like it was a miracle! She was in total remission by the 4th treatment or about 8 weeks into treatment. I had my Clyda back! I am so grateful for the 17 months we had with her, because I knew we couldn't "cure" the cancer I made sure everyday she knew how special she was and gave her lots and lots and lots of hugs and kisses all day. She touched so many people, I got introduced to Weim Rescue because we met her littermate at the Oncologist's office, she has Mast Cell Cancer and her owner was involved with the rescue! Good luck to your friend and again I will be glad to talk to her about our experience anytime.

AmazingGrayce · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 10:08 pm Post subject: Re: Lymphoma

AmazingGrayce · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 10:10 pm Post subject:

Also I forgot to mention...I am sure Kristy would be more than willing to speak/email with your friend if she would like. She had a lot of people step up and offer help to her when she first found out so I know she would love to return the favor.

Tonia · Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject:

Ty looks just like Clyda did in the beginning, her head was indented too. We came home from a Dave Matthews Band show (huge fan!) and her mouth was hanging open she could not close it, it happened so fast. We rushed her to the emergency vet and he told me Lymphoma that night, I was in so much denial I didn't believe him, she was too young for cancer, only five! Unfortunately my regular vet was in denial too and said she didn't have cancer, her mouth not closing was a temporary thing, I wanted to believe him so bad, I didn't get a second opinion until the next week. She really started going downhill fast, she lost about 10 lbs because she could not eat or drink on her own. I got the second opinion and they did a biopsy and of course it was cancer. We started the chemotherapy the next week and like I said in my post earlier the results were very dramatic very fast, she was completely like her old self. Chemo is not for every dog, some cannot tolerate it. If she had gotten sick after each treatment, I could not have continued, it is a difficult decision to make and to be quite honest treatment can be very expensive. I just like to share my experience because when this all happened I didn't know what to expect and I really liked hearing other peoples stories. Ty is beautiful and looks so so happy!

simis · Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 7:01 pm Post subject: