What to expect with Lymphoma in a dog

Hellrazer

Hi all.
Been a while since Ive posted here.
Worst news ever.
My Newfie was diagnosed with Lymphoma yesterday and honestly I haven't a clue what to expect.
Shes insured so weve decided to go ahead with the chemo.

Has anyone any advice at all?
Anyone been through this?
Survival rates etc?

Still trying to digest this news. Shes only 5 so not an old dog buy we are all devastated here. I could end up loosing two dogs in less than 8 months if she doesn't survive this

muddypaws

I'm really sorry.

My rottie cross Gus was diagnosed a few years ago, I decided against chemo, the vet gave him a month, and exactly 4 weeks to the day, he passed away. He was well up until the last day, playing, eating etc.

I have two friends whose dogs have had chemo, they got a few extra months with the dogs, and apparently it doesn't affect dogs the same way that it does humans, the dogs coped with it very well. If you are on Facebook, send me a pm, and I can send you a friend request and put you in touch with them if you like.

Hellrazer

Thanks Muddypaws.
Shes in at 9.00 am tomorrow for staging and a biopsy on one of the lumps.After that we`ve to decide on the chemo or not.
My insurance will cover it but if its only going to give her a few months Id rather not put her through it.

Vet says to expect 14-18 months with the chemo or possibly longer so in that case its worth it.Depends on the staging tomorrow though.

cocker5

Hellrazer wrote: »

Thanks Muddypaws.
Shes in at 9.00 am tomorrow for staging and a biopsy on one of the lumps.After that we`ve to decide on the chemo or not.
My insurance will cover it but if its only going to give her a few months Id rather not put her through it.

Vet says to expect 14-18 months with the chemo or possibly longer so in that case its worth it.Depends on the staging tomorrow though.

No help at all just wanted to say thinking of you and your dog - xxx

Rubberchikken

So sorry. Have no advice/help but wishing your little furry all the very best.

aonb

The only comment I would make is that going through the chemo process is so hard. You are constantly watching and worrying and looking for symptoms and stressing. You want to wrap them in cotton wool, but at the same time want them to have good life quality for their remaining time. You worry about everything - if she is eating, if shes drinking, if shes sleeping too much, if shes uncomfortable, if shes off form, if she doesnt want to go for a walk etc etc etc - I had a dog through chemo years ago, and really I wouldnt do it again - her last months with us were so upsetting because we watched her like a hawk for every little change or development. On the plus side we got to keep her for longer than if we didnt have the chemo, but as I say, a horrible time. Best wishes to you and your family and your dog

Hellrazer

Well she went for her biopsy on Monday. Just waiting on the results now. They removed one complete lymph gland and sent it off to be tested.
That will be deciding factor as to whether we go with the chemo or not.
Ill know in the morning and decide then.

misschoo

Hi Hellrazer.
My diabetic dog was treated for lymphoma with chemo 4 years ago. She has since passed away but not from lymphoma. She was started in UCD on the CHOP protocol with reduced steroids (because that can affect diabetes) once a week weekly for 3 weeks, then a weeks break before starting the cycle again but we had to modify this as it kept making her neutropenic which made her open to getting an infection. So she went for a one drug only protocol called Doxorubicin every 3 weeks for three months which she did very well on. She went into remission straight away for 5 months then came out of remission so they restarted the Doxorubicin for 3 more cycles.

This worked for her. She passed away five months after that due to diabetic complications nothing to do with her lymphoma. The vet in UCD said at her check up two weeks prior to that that she was still in remission and they were amazed at that. So she was diagnosed in November 2013 and she passed away in February 2016 so she got 15 months after diagnosis which was very good as her protocol was modified. If you do the full CHOP cycle with no problems they say roughly 12-18 months. Doxorubicin only will give 6-9 months (I was lucky getting 15 months). Steroids only will give roughly 4-6 weeks. They will more than likely sedate your dog while giving the chemo and there will be regular blood tests so there are all these add ons so be prepared for that. I also insisted on an anti-nausea drug called Cerenia pre-treatment, and for three days afterwards as she had one bout of nausea that I never wanted her to go through again and it worked perfectly and she never suffered from any nausea after that.

She was 9 when she was diagnosed so her insurance only covered 65% of the treatment so I had to pay the rest. UCD claimed directly from the insurance so I didn’t have to pay everything up front. It is costly if your dog doesn’t have insurance or you have to subsidise the 35% but it was worth it. I had a lot of people question me letting her have the chemo but with humans we treat with chemo to cure it - with animals they give lower doses to give a good quality of life for the bit they have left so go with your own decision and what you feel is right for your dog.

If you have any questions please ask me - I know what you are going through. Remember though if you decide against treatment your dog doesn’t k ow any better and will still be the happy go lucky dog that’s she is so make every moment count! I don’t regret going the chemo route as I needed to give her every chance. Wishing you and your fur baby the best x

jsabina

Hi Hellrazer,
I am really sorry to hear you are going through this.

Unfortunately I am in the same situation.
In January I brought my dogs for vaccination and out of the blue I saw the vet concerned about Buddy limphnodes.
Fast forward, he has been diagnosed with limphoma, stage III/IVb.

I have been thinking a lot, but I had to take a quick decision, because from one day to the other Buddy deteriorated icnredibly.
He had high fever, swollen limphnodes couldn't almost breath and was very sick.
That was just the day I received the result of his tests... so no time to think really.

He was admitted in UCD and I decided to go for chemo, but I told them that if that would make him miserable I would stop.

He started the CHOP protocol and I have to say he is an incredibly happy dog!
He just stopped the steroids, we are on the 2nd 5 weeks cycle.. and until now he had no adverse reaction.
He is eating, drinking, running and has a lot of energies (well, he is 12 years old...)

My main concern was that he would hate going there once a vet... but he doesn't!!!
He is happy to go in, to stay with the vets and he loves them!!!

The hardest part is of course worrying to be able to catch signs of deteriorating or problems... driving to UCD once a week (I live in Dublin, but it takes me 3 hrs in the morning and almost other 3 in the evenings...)..
and worse is that Buddy doesn't have health insurance because I adopted him from the pound when he was 8 so nobody would insure him.. I am spending a crazy amount of money, and I will be very poor after this, but .... well I had to try at least to make him feel better for a little while!

If you like we can keep in touch, as we are going through the same experience!

Hellrazer

Quick update.
Bailey is now 4 weeks into her chemo and shes doing great.Putting the weight on and her bloods are coming back fine every week.
Shes had no reaction to the chemo so far and seems to be doing ok.

cocker5

Delighted to hear that! Long may it last!!

biggebruv

Hellrazer wrote: »

Hi all.
Been a while since Ive posted here.
Worst news ever.
My Newfie was diagnosed with Lymphoma yesterday and honestly I haven't a clue what to expect.
Shes insured so weve decided to go ahead with the chemo.

Has anyone any advice at all?
Anyone been through this?
Survival rates etc?

Still trying to digest this news. Shes only 5 so not an old dog buy we are all devastated here. I could end up loosing two dogs in less than 8 months if she doesn't survive this

My dog had a lump some were near his bottom area that was revealed to he a cancerous lymphoma
We done surgery to remove the lump and we got another 3 or so years with him before it returned and surgery was not an option this time sadly.

Every case is different though and hopefully your dog can be recovered to buy lots of more years with you your dog is young so that's good.

My dog was 8 when he was diagnosed with the cancer.

jsabina

Hellrazer wrote: »

Quick update.
Bailey is now 4 weeks into her chemo and shes doing great.Putting the weight on and her bloods are coming back fine every week.
Shes had no reaction to the chemo so far and seems to be doing ok.

Great news!
I have tthe same experience with buddy.

We now completed the first two cycles of chemo.
Now it will be at alternating weeks.

He is still an happy dog!

Hellrazer

Quick update.Baileys been doing great--well she had been up to 3 weeks ago.She was in complete remission but we noticed a lump under her neck. Back to the vets and it looks like its returned. She started on another protocol 2 weeks ago with some new drug that's only become available and she seems to be doing well on this one. The lump is gone and she piling the weight back on. So fingers crossed we`ll get her into remission again.

jsabina

Thanks for updating Hellrazer.
Also Buddy is doing fine.
He finished the 1st part of the chop protocol (with a slight modification) in August and he is in remission.
Yesterday he went for a check up and seems to be ok.
Let's see, finger crossed for both doggies!!!

aonb

lovely to hear Buddy and Bailey are doing well - long life to them both!
A lesson learned that insuring your dog is certainly a good idea sometimes

jsabina

it is absolutely a good idea.
Economically is being very hard to be honest.

In my situation I have been unable to insure Buddy because I adopted him when he was 8 and couldn't find an insurance for him

Hellrazer

Hi all.
Bailey lost her fight with lymphoma today.
She hadn't been the best for the last couple of weeks since her last chemo.
She went for her Friday chemo today and the vet told us it had spread to her lungs and it was time to let her go.
So we got her pts today.
Heartbreaking altogether since she was only 6

Tipperary animal lover

Hi Hellrazor, I'm shedding a tear here while writing this, it's so hard to loose a valuable member of the family, I know it's very painful for ye atm, but you'll always remember the good times and you tried your best for her, give her a big kiss from us all here on the boards form, that picture is one for a frame above the fireplace .... Best wishes TAL

em_cat

Tipperary animal lover wrote: »

Hi Hellrazor, I'm shedding a tear here while writing this, it's so hard to loose a valuable member of the family, I know it's very painful for ye atm, but you'll always remember the good times and you tried your best for her, give her a big kiss from us all here on the boards form, that picture is one for a frame above the fireplace .... Best wishes TAL

Well said, very sorry for loss Hellrazor.

Graces7

So very very sorry for your loss... Lost my dog only a few months ago so all too aware of what this means. Bless you and take care..

cocker5

So so sorry for your loss

Zapperzy

Sorry to hear about Bailey, so young too. I lost my terrier to lymphoma 3 years ago, shocking how fast he went downhill, didn't have time to try chemo.