Dr. Goldstein:

 

On October 14th our 13 1/2 year old mixed breed female spayed dog was diagnoised with a thorax tumor.  When found this tumor was about the size of an egg and had eaten through her sterum.  Within two weeks the tumor grew at least twice and possible three times the size it was.  We attempted to get her to St. Loiuis Illinois teaching hospital but that was not happening fast enough for us. At this point she had lost 6 pounds, was not eating, could barely stand much less walk and obiviously was in great pain.  We finally got her into Purdue, West Lafayette, Indiana.  This is an 4 1/2 hour drive one way for us.

I was laid off the week after she was diagnoised.  We have taken her to Purdue for 4 radiation treatments and she will have her 2nd chemo treatment next Tuesday.

When we found out she had cancer, I immediately started her on marrow soup to bring her appetite back up and vit. b-12. We have her also on K-9 Immunity and transfer factor.  I have been taking her to a holistic vet in town, Dr. Garrett, who has also given acupunture, Stasis Breaker,  Wei Qi booster, Body Sore Teapills, Xue Fu Zhu Yu.

She is a different dog.  We were sure she was dead at the end of October and now she has the same vitality - appetite she had before she got sick.  Some days she moves a little slower, but she is 13 1/2 and it is cold here in southern Indiana.  She does not greet us at the door when we come in anymore, which we greatly miss, but she acknowledges us by standing up and wagging her tail, so we go to her.  We are very pleased with her progress and very glad we will have her for another Christmas.

Radiation stopped the growth of the tumor, but it has not shrunk much.  There does not appear to be any spread of Cancer.  Chemo does not appear to be shrinking tumor although she has only had one treatment

I guess my question is this:  While we do not regret any money spend to bring Cutter back to this point, I have been laid off and this is starting to really take a toll on our household income. My husband is an elementary school teacher, (who has taught at the same inner city school for the past 33  years).  Each visit to Purdue has cost us $450 - $460.00 not counting the travel expenses for a two day trip.  The oncologist at Purdue has mentioned chemo pills that will keep her statis quo only.  We did not want to lose Cutter without feeling we had done everything we could.

My husband thinks the acupunture and chinese herbs are "just throwing money away".  It is getting time to reevaluate treatment and what to cut?  I am not sure what is best to keep and what to cut.

 

Thank you,  Becky Gish