The Waiting Game

I have to take a couple of the dogs up to the vet today (Lucy and Dorothy, just routine exams), which is pretty much an all-day affair. So, what better time to give you an update on my girl, Sweetie.


As a reminder, Sweetie was diagnosed with a bone tumor on her right front leg. X-rays revealed small spots on her lungs, and an enlarged liver, with some possible problem in that area. A surgical biopsy was done, and the results, which took FREAKIN' FOREVER, didn't reveal too much more information past the spindle cell and anaplastic sarcoma. But the bottom line is this: they are certain the cancer has metastasized. They are certain that the cancer is what will end Sweetie's life, whether through a pathological fracture of her right leg, or because we decide when it is time for her.

Neither of those choices is particularly appealing.

The suggestion of amputation, which I mentioned before, was offered again by the orthopedic vet. But, given that Sweetie has had hip problems for some time, and that the wasting effect cancer so often has on creatures has begun in earnest in her hip area, that is not really an option. Even if they only did a partial, with a prosthesis, it takes several weeks for the prosthetic to be made. Bear in mind, this is an older dog, who also has a major auto-immune disease. Our regular vet concurred with us - Sweetie is not a good candidate for major surgery, or to be on only three legs when two of them are already problematic.

Radiation was mentioned as another option. Of course, there isn't a place in the area that DOES it, which would require frequent trips to have it done. Bear in mind, this isn't for a CURE. Like the amputation, it is only palliative. The one benefit would be a drug post-radiation that would help the bone to re-grow. But there are lots of negatives to this kind of treatment, not the least of which is that it is painful, and requires long-distance trips to get that treatment.

The last possibility is chemotherapy. Again, this would not be for a cure, but for the bone strengthening potential. We will be meeting with an oncologist this week to find out what the pros and cons are for this treatment. Chemo is hard on dogs, too, and we are not willing to put Sweetie through a lot of difficult treatments to extend the quantity of her life over the quality of her life.

And that's the bottom line. Most of the treatments available will not give Sweetie that much longer on this earth, and can make the days she has left filled with lots of travel, more drugs, and illness from the treatments. Thankfully, we have one of the most compassionate vets on the planet, and she has made it clear that if it was her dog, with all that Sweetie has going on, she would not do any surgery on her. And, she has made it clear that should we choose to just medically treat Sweetie, make sure she is not in pain, and just enjoy the rest of our time with her without anything else being done, that that is enough. It isn't about how much we are willing to spend, or that we aren't willing to do whatever our animals need for us to do for them. Sometimes, though, what they need, is to be able to live out their days in relative peace, without a lot of invasive treatments, especially since those treatments won't prolong her life much longer than she would have anyway.

So, we will meet with the oncologist to cover all of the bases, to ask the questions for which we need answers, to know that we are making the most informed decision we can possibly make. In the end, we have to choose what is best for Sweetie, as best we can to take ourselves out of the equation. That is to say, to not hold on to her so long that it is hard on her, no matter how hard it is on us. As another one of our vets always says, this is the gift we can give to her, to not have her be in pain, to relieve her of her suffering, and to let her go.

And even as I type those words, I know what a brutal decision that will be. She is a faithful companion, loving, protective, and, well, sweet. What a blessing she has been in our lives, and will be for a little while longer...