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To raise money to fund critical research into the genetic, communicable and acquired diseases that plague our beloved breed, the Rottweiler. |
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To raise money to fund critical research into the genetic, communicable and acquired diseases that plague our beloved breed, the Rottweiler. |
Our
Rottweiler Bradley - Dealing with Multicentric Lymphoma
submitted by Andrea Giso on January 7, 2009 ; email: AndreaGiso@aol.com
Our boy, Bradley is only two and half years old and was diagnosed with lymphoma on December 17, 2008. We've had Rotties for over 25 years and have dealt with the heartbreak of osteosarcoma more than we want to remember, but never lymphoma. We have been blessed, all of our Rotties lived to 10 and older (the oldest 11-1/2). This is a devastating cancer; because there were no symptoms prior to finding a mass on his neck, it just floored us.
On December 15, we found the mass and I immediately thought lymphoma, but then thought I over reacted. I called my vet and after talking we decided it was probably an abscess from Bradley's passion for eating sticks and branches and that a piece may have pierced the soft tissue in his mouth and abscessed. We were set to take him in on the 17th and that morning we found another, smaller mass on the other side of his neck which was not there the night before. We headed out (an hour's ride) and the dread kept nagging at us that this wasn't just an abscess. Within minutes of Bradley's exam it was pretty much certain. His nodes on his neck, chest, behind his knees where all up. He had also starting to breathe in a way which sounded almost like a snore.
After discussing the options and what was best for our boy, we selected the least invasive treatment; high dose of prednisone (100 mg) for 4 days, lower to a maintenance dose of 60 and add cytoxan. We would not put him through a full chemo protocol; it just wasn't fair to this otherwise happy, healthy boy. The 4th day on the prednisone he started having projectile diarrhea and vomiting so we backed off for one day and started him on 20mg and slowly brought it up to 40 mg, which is the dose we have him on now, January 6. We decided not to add the cytoxan.
These are hard decisions to make, but his comfort is the most important thing to us right now. After the 2nd day on the 100 mg of prednisone the masses disappeared. We don't know when, but know they will return and until then, as long as he his happy and comfortable, we'll enjoy every day we have him with us. After all the "how could this happen to a two year old?" we realize cancer doesn't know age, gender, dog or human; it happens and no one can predict it and you are never prepared for it.
We are blessed we have Bradley in our lives and will let him go when the time comes.
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