Molly Has Cancer

[ninoid12]

I didnt know where to put this. And im a mess tonight.

Molly is a black Labrador cross Kelpie (we think, she's from a shelter). she turned 15yo in May.

The past week she hasnt been fussed on eating. Licks her food or nibbles. But ive been having major personal problems so havent paid her enough attention i dont think

Anyhow, she has done poos inside three times this week. Runny. Not water, but loose enough. She does little piddles in her sleep but that never phases me, she's old.

Anyhow, tonight i offered her tinned food which she normally doesnt get. I usually feed chicken frames, bones of various off cuts, and some senior dry. She didnt get up from her bed when i was making it. This worried me. Then, when i put it infront of her, she just looked up at me. Didnt want it.

I freaked out, a labrador who doesnt want to eat? ;)

I coaxed her to eat, but rang the vet for an appt tonight.

They found her lymph glands up. Which i hadnt noticed (feel very bad not noticing). They took biopsies of them (4). They took blood for a full blood analysis.

The vet strongly believes it is cancer. I broke down and BAWLED. She says there is a slight chance its an infection, but from all the signs ive told her, and what she has looked at her, she honestly believes it is cancer.

So, i have to wait a few days for results. I will let you guys know. I am very upset. Anxiety. I know she has to go some day, but not yet. please not yet.

Thankyou to all who read this, regardless of whether you reply. I appreciate you listening to me. I dont know what to do, or think. Dont even want to txt my friends and family to tell them. I know, i should wait for the results, but i need to think of this possibility

-nina-

(and Miss Molly)

[Allerzeit]

Sending lots of mental ;) and to both you and to Molly. I will be thinking of you and hoping for the best.

[Addicted2gold]

Hugs to you both. Sending positive thoughts your way.

[ninoid12]

Thankyou. I REALLY appreciate it.

I bought a bucket of icecream (ironically its the connoiseur cookies and cream she is licking lol) and block of chocolate on the way home. But feel too anxious and sick to eat it.

And im a stress-eater

[ninoid12]

[Sankari]

Terribly sorry to hear what you're going through with Molly

Did the vet say Lymphoma? Lymphoma doesnt always have enlarged Lymph nodes at the beginning. My GR didnt have swollen Lymph nodes at first.

Some suggestions...

There are anti-cancer diets which I believe it is puggy puggy who knows a fair bit about, maybe do a search for it on here.

Make sure Molly is comfortable and not in pain.

If you go down the route of holistic things you can do i believe there is management of the disease. I did alot of research on this last year.

Also has the vet done an abdominal ultrasound? This helped our diagnosis also as we then had surgery done for biopsies to find it had spread to several organs.

Lastly we are all here and many of us have been through the pain and heart ache of a dog battling cancer.

Edited August 20, 2009 by LucyCharzie

[Guest Clover]

Oh Nina i will have everything crossed for you and your gorgeous old girl ;). Lots of good vibes on the way for you both .

[Sankari]

Thankyou. I REALLY appreciate it.

I bought a bucket of icecream (ironically its the connoiseur cookies and cream she is licking lol) and block of chocolate on the way home. But feel too anxious and sick to eat it.

And im a stress-eater

Sounds just like me! I couldnt and wouldnt eat for days but eventually i had to because i knew i had to be strong for her.

[ninoid12]

Waiting for results. No she didnt say lymphoma or anything specific. Just said that at her age, with the symptoms, she believes its cancer. I asked if its in her stomach is that why she isnt eating? she says it might, but we'll see what tests say. She checked the lymph nodes to see if its cancer of them, and to just check whats happening.

I am preying its an infection, when i asked her could it be anything else she said it could possibly be an infection that has made her glands go up, she says it might be, but she doubts it. Silly me, grasping at that tiny straw of hope. But i guess thats human.

She is comfortable. She is quieter than usual, but not by much. Wags her tail, gives me greaseys when i pat the other dogs. Just not quite as active. Seems 'off' this week. Licking a chicken carcass?! ;) I should have picked up on it on monday. But life in every other way sucked then and i just didnt 'notice' it until i looked back at this weeks tell-tale signs.

I am willing to do hollistic, drugs, whatever it takes. To a point. I wont do chemo, she is too old. And i dont have much money so i cant afford everything. But will stretch my budget to the limit. After all, she has given me 15yrs of her life, unconditionally.

(apologies if my wording is crap, or spelling etc. Mind isnt quite itself tonight)

[Robbi]

Take each day you have together as a special day, do things that you love doing, walks on the beach, icecream or a cheeseburger treat and try not to worry until you have to

[MTD]

Sending lots and lots of ;) to you and Molly

[ninoid12]

Thankyou.

I let molly have the window down on the way back from the vet. I wanted to have it closed as i was cold, and also i want to protect her from the world. But the enjoyment i saw, her ears flapping in the wind, that made it worthwhile.

(dammit, tears have started up again)

[sumosmum]

So sorry. ;) to you and Molly. She is a beautiful girl.

Sending healing vibes, and loads of prayers and good wishes.

Thinking of you.

[Erny]

I know, i should wait for the results, but i need to think of this possibility ;)

Dear Nina and Miss Molly - I'm really sorry for the cause of your thread .... I can feel your pain through your words. That your girl obviously has had a good life to be able to make the innings she has is of no comfort to you. It is hard to lose them at any time regardless of age.

I don't wish to give you false hope. But someone I was speaking to yesterday (also a DOL member) was telling me of one of her girls whom suddenly showed enlarged lymph glands and so she rushed her to the Vet specialist. All indicators seemed to point towards lymphoma - the Vets were fairly certain of it - but none of the test results proved this nor did tests reveal a virus as the culprit. As a consequence the Vet specialists are baffled but her dog's lymph glands have receded and is/has returned to normal health.

I wish for you and for Miss Molly the same outcome as the above, even though you do need to be prepared for news worse than this.

My fingers and toes are all crossed for you both.

Write here any time you need. It's a hard thing to face and a load shared is a load halved.

Edited August 20, 2009 by Erny

[OSoSwift]

So sorry to hear what is happening.

I don't that a dog may be "old" I still don't want them to go!!!

I really hope for you that it is not cancer. It is easy to say try not to think about it, but I am the WORST for the what if's. I had my nearly 15yo cat at the vets today and whilst there is nothing specific, there is something not right! I am also waiting for blood results, so I can sypathise a little, although he doesn't have any lumps somewhere he shouldn't!

As Robbi said, try to do fun stuff and take it one day at a time, do lots of fun stuff and eat icecream together.

Thinking of you both. Hugs from us.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

I often take on older dogs, knowing that I will lose them sooner than I'd like but it doesn't mean I love them any less. I've lost 4 in the last year, 3 of which were sudden although thinking realistically, not unexpected by me I suppose.

I'd had major health worries with each of them in their last years and then the huge relief that they were going to come through and be with me a bit longer.

It is very hard to lose our beloved friends so treasure every day and give them some of their special things as often as you can, Robbi's advice is excellent.

Hoping Molly comes through and you have lots more special times ahead with your baby.

[4Kelpies]

I can only add my best wishes and healing thoughts for you and Molly. I have had two dogs diagnosed with cancer and know well the horrible dread caused by hearing a vet say this word. One of my dogs was pts 10 months after diagnosis while the other is still going strong three and a half years later. Try to stay positive, there may well be a non cancer related cause for her symptoms. Make the most of the time you have now. If it does turn out to be cancer there are options. While there is no cure for cancer as yet, we can do a lot to help our dogs' healthy cells stay that way and to give them quality of life.

I'll be thinking of you and hoping for good test results.

[Amstaffs4me]

Oh how horrible for you and your beautiful old girl to be going through this

Fingers crossed for you both and positive vibes being sent your way.

for you and Molly

[ninoid12]

Thankyou EVERYONE. God i appreciate reading these comments and well wishes. I woke up last night at some ungodly hour and have been up since. Stressing. Patting her. Crying. Anxiety has kicked in again.

I will post on here strait away if any change. Or if i get results. God knows i will need the support, especially if we know what it is and anyone else knows what its like.

Thankyou again

Btw, molly ate 3 spoons full of cookies and cream icecream with me last night, in front of the heater. Even in illness, she can still be a labrador

[Staffyluv]

I know, i should wait for the results, but i need to think of this possibility

Dear Nina and Miss Molly - I'm really sorry for the cause of your thread .... I can feel your pain through your words. That your girl obviously has had a good life to be able to make the innings she has is of no comfort to you. It is hard to lose them at any time regardless of age.

I don't wish to give you false hope. But someone I was speaking to yesterday (also a DOL member) was telling me of one of her girls whom suddenly showed enlarged lymph glands and so she rushed her to the Vet specialist. All indicators seemed to point towards lymphoma - the Vets were fairly certain of it - but none of the test results proved this nor did tests reveal a virus as the culprit. As a consequence the Vet specialists are baffled but her dog's lymph glands have receded and is/has returned to normal health.

I wish for you and for Miss Molly the same outcome as the above, even though you do need to be prepared for news worse than this.

My fingers and toes are all crossed for you both.

Write here any time you need. It's a hard thing to face and a load shared is a load halved.

I totally agree with Erny...

I have everything crossed for you and Molly that it is just an infection and with a dose of anti-b's she will be eating like a good lab again soon.

To be honest I can't believe that a vet suggested cancer with just enlarged lymph nodes - that could be many things. I am not saying I don't believe you, just that most vets would not say that to worry someone unless they were sure it was cancer and you can't know that without the correct testing. I think it is irresponsible of vets to mention cancer without confirmation as it worries us so much and puts so much stress on us that our dogs pick up on and that does not help them when they are unwell either.

Even before Ollie was dxd with Mast Cell Cancer the vet did not say 'cancer', all he said was that the lump was suspicious and he wanted to test it - when I asked what he meant he said that he just wanted to be sure.

Fingers crossed