Thanks to my friend KatherineA, I found this site. I'm really here just to introduce myself & make some connections as I know I am going to need support as I travel this journey. My 13 1/2 year old yellow lab Sachan was diagnosed with nasal adencarcinoma on 1-17-04. After painstakingly considering all the options, I am treating her with holistic measures and have not opted for the traditional radiation. I had a black lab when I was a child - she was hit by a car at age five. I have never had a senior lab before.
Sachan also suffers from laryngeal paralysis (we had unilateral tie-back procedure a year ago) and degenerative myelopathy. She currently has very up and down days; the biggest struggle is her breathing. I don't know how much of that is due to her larynx trouble & how much is to do with her inability to breathe through her nose due to the cancer. If anyone has experienced breathing problems with their kids, I could use any tips. Beyond that..I just need to have a place to come to talk as this awful disease progresses.
Dawn & Sachan

Dawn - first of all, welcome to the board! :p: I'm so sorry to hear about Sachan. I don't know much about breathing problems, but I lost my Zack:angel: to cancer in September of 2002. I understand how difficult this time can be. I'm sure you'll find lots of useful information and several friendly people on this site. Thinking of you!

Gail

Thanks Gail. Wow - what a beautiful picture! Which baby is this? What type of cancer did your kid have & what happened? I continue to ride the roller coaster with Sachan. It is sad. I have been trying to figure out how to downsize my px of Sachan so I can post but no luck yet.. I'll keep working on it.

Dawn & Sachan

Welcome to the board. This will be a good place for you to come for support during this difficult period. My Lab, Penny, went to the bridge on 11/11/2003. She had a unilateral laryngeal tie-back a year and a half earlier due to laryngeal paralysis. In October, 2003 she was diagnosed with "Epitheliotropic malignant lymphoma". Her chest x-ray showed that the cancer had spread extensively and her vet advised and I agreed not to take any heroic measures. We spent the last month savoring the moments until we released her in November. She was 12 1/2. I found this site in December and am very grateful for it and the people on it. I'm glad you are here.

Hi Dawn,
The picture in my signature is my spoiled rotten boy, Tanner. We will be getting a second pup at the end of May.

Zack was a lab-mix that we rescued. He was about 1.5 years old when we got him. He was with us for 8 years before he passed. Zack's cancer started with him having several little button, cherry and fatty tumors. All of the tumors were eventually removed. Most came back fine, then in May of 2002, one of the lumps came back cancerous. It was a cancer that is spread through the blood, so the fact that we removed the tumor was only a temporary fix. By late June, he wasn't acting like himself. I knew something wasn't right. After 3 weeks of tests, an ultra sound found a tumor on his spleen. We removed his spleen and he was a happy, playful, boy again. He must have felt so relieved. Unfortunately, that only lasted a month, and once again he was ill. Another ultra sound showed spots on his liver. We attempted another surgery. The vet let me be there when he put Zack under for the surgery. We both knew it may be the last time we'd be together. The vet called me during the middle of the surgery. He said it was worse than he ever could have imagined. That's when we made the decision to free him of his suffering. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do, but I know it was a good decision.

I'm home during the summer months, so I was fortunate to be able to spend those three months caring for and loving him. On his really bad days he would just lay his head on me. I can't tell you how many nights I slept next to him on the floor. (He could no longer jump up on the bed due to his first surgery.) It was a difficult time, but in some ways, I have several fond memories of that summer together. I think he felt bad that I was sad....he was the trooper. He always wanted to go for his walk, no matter how sick he'd been. (He would violently vomit on his really bad days.) He would always wag his tail when I walked into the room. I know he didn't want me to be so sad.

Wow.....sorry to ramble so much! I guess even after almost two years, I still really miss my first boy!

It's a tough ride, but treasure this time. I know Sachan appreciates everything you're doing for her. The best piece of advice I can offer is, be sure you have a vet that you completely trust and love. I don't know what I would have done without the support and kindness of ours.

You've come to the right place...there are several very knowledgeable people on this board. Most don't ramble as much as I.:rolleyes:

Please keep me posted on Sachan's progress. I'll be thinking of you!

Gail

Welcome to the board. You have certainly come to the right place to get support for you and your ailing Sachan. We have a wonderful group of people on this board that will be with you every step of the way if need be. When you need to vent and cry, we will be here! I'm so sorry to hear about your baby. :(

Thanks to all of you for your kind replies & support. To say this is a difficult journey is an understatement as you all well know. When I think about saying goodbye to my best friend of nearly 14 years I become overwhelmed. I don't know how I will possibly know when enough is enough & I need to help her to the bridge. I have heard that I will know as well as I know my own name.
Saturday we had a bad episode; she vomited violently & then started staggering around the room, very unsteady & at one point flopped down on her side. Her gums became pale & I feared we would have to run to ER; she threw up about 7 times and was having difficulty breathing. I am sure this has to do with her larynx tie back surgery which is now being affected by the nasal cancer and inability to breathe.

2Shoes.. did you ever find anything to help alleviate the LP symptoms/problems with Penney? I run a steam vaporizer with Vicks in the bedroom & that does seem to help keep the mucous loosened a little but I'm wondering if there's anything else I can do to help her?

I'm sorry it took so long for me to see your post with question. Feel free to PM me if you want to. Penny had the Laryngeal tie back surgery. While the surgery helped her to breathe much easier, her recovery period was quite difficult, probably due to her age: 11. I decided then I would do no more major surgeries on her. It was just too much suffering. About a year later, she seemed to be having labored breath again. This time it was due to the cancer. A large tumor was situated right in her lung- airway area. She'll always be my sweetie. I think you will know the right time. When it is time, remember that helping them cross the bridge is the last act of love you perform for them.

Dawn,
She is so pretty! I am sorry to hear about her cancer - she is very lucky to have a best friend like you who is with her in the end when things are rough.

Sorry for what you are going through. Love her,
cuddle her and enjoy her for how ever long your time together
shall be!

We are here for talk & support when you need us!

peace & blessings,
SMITTY

Dawn,
When our beloved Coco was diagnosed with cancer (lymphoma) in February, I started doing massive research. I was rather impressed with the research being done by Dr. Ogilvie at Colorado and also the product, Poly MVA. Unfortunately Coco only lived 2 days past her diagnosis so I was never able to implement any healing measures.

If you haven't already, I would suggest doing a web search on Dr. Ogilvie and the product Poly MVA.

Disclaimer: I am not associated in any way with either Dr. Ogilvie or the product Poly MVA.

Thanks to all for your support.

Shirley: How awful to only have 2 days.. I am sorry for your loss. The oncologist I saw has all her treatment plans supervised by CSU so I have been in touch with them. I will, however check out Dr. Ogilve. I have done SO much research & have Sach on tons of vitamins, nutriceuticals & supplements. There's a lot out there. One can only hope they are doing the best possible for their baby with the information absorbed.

Sachan continues on a relatively even keel.. good days & bad days.. symptoms come & go & I am continually amazed at the roller coaster with mood and symptoms. I get to a point I think 'this is it' and she bounces back again. I've never been through this before so it's just SO hard to know.

Hugs to all
Dawn & Sachan

HI Dawn,
I have been on the board for quite some time, but have been busy lately so I am trying to catch up. I am so sorry to hear about Sachan.

In December 2003, after a battery of x-rays, treatment for lyme disease, and a fed up lab mother who was about to freak on the vets because they took so long to find out the answer..I was told two days before Christmas that my 5yr old yellow boy Jack has osteosarcoma. I literally cried all the way home and cried for a few days. I was so overwhelmend. My husband and I are fairly new lab owners. We adopted Gusty (now 8)(female) 9/02 and Jack was adopted 3/03 (he was then 4) from a local breeder. Jack was returned to the breeder after his other a$$ of an owner was moving and didn't want him. Coincidentally, Gusty is Jack's mom.

So Jack was only with us for 9 months when we got the news. We decided to not amputate or treat with chemo, etc. Honestly, I was prepared to let him go...it has now been almost 5 months and he is doing well. He is on 20mg of oxycontin daily. Eats, sleeps, chews, plays a little, and begs for car rides. His exercise is limited due to the fragility of his front leg but he surely holds his own.

Please know that you are not alone. Many times I needed a pick me up and came here for the support. Feel free to PM me if you just need to vent/cry.

Take care and please enjoy every moment and still take lots of pics. My dh also went out and bought me a ceramic pic frame to do Jacks paw in and put his picture on the other side.

Thanks GusJack! Gosh.. how awful for you! How is your baby doing?
Sachan continues to hold her own.. we have up days and down days. the down days continue to be.. for me (and I'm sure her too) when she just has no energy and can no longer keep her head up. The nosebleeds & the puke sessions. they seem to pass relatively quickly and don't seem to bother her so much. Those are much easier dealth with than the overall lethargy and depression. At diagnosis (exactly 4 months yesterday), I was told she only had 4-5 months... relatively speaking I think we're doing well. The emotional roller coaster is the hardest...
Hugs for you and Jack
Dawn & Sachan

HI Dawn,
I'm glad to hear that your baby is doing reasonably well. I am sure it is so hard. Jack is still doing well. It is very hard for us humans to judge how much pain they are in, but as long as he gets up, eats, goes outside, and interacts, I know he is okay. Everyone tells me he will "let me know" when it is time to move on to the Rainbow Bridge. As long as Jack has his barking fits like he does, I know he is okay. He came to us with a bit of a barking problem..and the puppies don't help, so he barks at them whenever he gets the chance.
Keep me posted on Sachan and I wish you all the best.
Take Care.

Sachan really had a remarkably good week. I have a puppy sitter that comes in twice a day while I'm at work & she was even impressed with her energy level & perkiness. Saturday was a bit rough - warm and extremely high humidity which increases her breathing problems. We were over helping "Grandma" move & she couldn't just stay in one spot so she over taxed herself a bit. But today she's back to her smiley self. I have had 2 others I have connected with who lost their babies this week. While I know our time will come eventually, at this point in time I am just grateful. How is Jack doing?

Originally posted by DawnMich29
How is Jack doing?

Jack is doing well. I am not sure if you read my post about him. The breeder whom I adopted him spoke with her vet about him. The vet seems to think that it is odd that he has not progressed in a bad way, and said that there are times where osteosarcoma is misdiagnosed. I am waiting to hear if I should have her vet look at him. In all reality, in 5 months he has not changed one bit (except put on weight) I can't imagine that the oxycontin is holding off the metasis of the cancer. I am not sure what is going on, but we hope to find out soon.

Glad to hear that Sachan is doing well. They never really know when to just relax, now do they.

I am so sorry to hear about all your babies. I was very fortunate to have my last dog "baby" with us for 15+ years. She passed in June of last year from pneumonia. It was just too much for her and her advanced age. it was hard losing her but to see her suffering was the hardest. I don't know if I could handle seeing my baby hurting as yours are. I don't know if I could handle the emotions.