Lymphoma advice needed

Hi,

My 1 year old Border Terrier has been diagnosed with lymphona and we are unsure what to do next.

We have been advised to go ahead with chemo, however I am unaware if the dog will suffer during this time like humans do, as when I do internet searches there are mixed responces. I wouldn't dream of keeping her alive for a longer period of time for my selfish reasons. It is just so sad that she is only 1 year old and hasn't had a chance to live her life yet.

Thanks for any help, if you have experiance with this I would like to know.

I had a Lab with this 15 years ago - we went the chemo route and she had an extra 12 quality months and no issues from the chemo bar that her shaved fur from blood tests etc did not grow back properly.

My friend has just lost her lurcher to the same - he went 15 months on the chemo and no side effects although I believe it effects dogs differently.

I would go down that route again if I ever had to.

I am thinking of you

I'm so sorry to hear this, so young

Our male has/had Lymphoma, we went the chemo route, best decision we ever made, probably 3 days of bad side effects overall, but nearly 365 days of my healthy beautiful boy breezing through the treatment, and he is still here, at my feet 1 year later. Cancer free and happy. It is nowhere as near as bad as human chemo, no hairloss, my lad just had a little bit of a squiffy tummy at times and tires quicker.

Let me just go and find a link to his chemo thread for you and I will paste it in here http://www.dogsey.com/showthread.php?t=126045

And this one, my lad http://www.dogsey.com/showthread.php?t=139137 If you'd like to read the full article i will email you the pdf version xx

I've been through this with one of my dogs. This was around 10 years ago and did give us extra time. The fact that your dog is so young must be in her favour. The side effects he had were sickness a couple of days after the chemo and an increase in his appetite due to the steroids. He used to go into the vet hospital in the morning and I'd pick him up later on the same day. Lots of vets will carry out the treatment themselves now without the need to go to a vet hospital.

I would think that there must have been a lot of progress in treating dogs with this disease since then.

Speak to your vet again and then decide, this must have been such a big shock for you. I'm sure the vet wouldn't suggest the chemo if it wasn't going to benefit her.

Woody

Just wanted to say really sorry to hear this

My own girl was diagnosed yesterday with T-cell lymphoma, but unfortunately it doesn't really respond to chemo, so now we're just making the best of the time we've got left

I lost my beloved boy to Lymphoma 2 years ago aged 4 and a 1/2,He had the steriod meds and another Chemo med (can't quite remember what its called) at home twice a day,This wasn't the full on Chemo,It just kept him comfortable and kept his weight on .
He managed to last 6 weeks from diagnosis but lived life to the full in that time,
Akita girl and her dog Zeke have experience with the full treatment with good results.
Very sorry to hear this,Hugs to you x

Thanks for all the advice. We are going to Liverpool today to speak to a specialist, I think now I will go ahead with the chemo. xx

Zeke was treated at Liverpool University, and we still go there for his checkups. Liverpool Small Animal teaching hospital? They are fantastic. Good luck xxx

Chemotherapy can be one hell of a journey, the ups, the downs, the emotions more than anything, but for us it was so worth it. If you have any questions after speaking to them from an owners point of view, please don't hesistate to pm me, i will be as honest and helpful as I can.

Thinking of you xxx

Yesterday we took my dog to Liverpool University vets to start her chemo. However, the vet phoned today saying she is not responding to it and her neck swelling is getting worse (but she is not in pain, just uncomfortable).

She was ment to phone again today with further advice but hasn't as of yet so I woundered if anyone knew what this means and what is best to do next?

Thanks x

Oh Lizzie sorry to hear this
I hope the vet rings soon with some better news xx