Remember Jack....?

[jennifert9]

I'm sure many of you remember Jack, my old roommate's dog....well, she just emailed me today, Jack has cancer. he has some kind of cancer called liposarcoma. I can't even type this without crying...I will insert what she sent me. Please pray that he makes it, he is one of the best dogs in the world and Kate's best friend.
From Kate:
he had surgery. brutal. the tumor
on his left hip is intertwined around his muscles and they weren't able to
remove any of it (they took a couple pieces off for biopsy purposes). they
also found a tumor on his other hip, same spot. that was easily removed.
so, he has stitches on both hips. surgery was monday. i've been home with
him all week. stitches are supposed to be removed a week from today. :-(

the vet talked about amputating his bad leg (the left back leg) because they
could not remove the tumor and believe it will spread the cancer to other
parts of his body.

This is breaking my heart....

[jennifert9]

Here is a picture:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y23/jennifert9/jack.jpg

[jennifert9]

And in happier times....

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y23/jennifert9/jackhappy.jpg

[lizbud]

I'm so sorry about your friend's dog Jack.:( Such a sweet
looking dog. Hope he's not in to much pain.:(

[jennifert9]

And one more....http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y23/jennifert9/jackinsnow.jpg

[LorraineO]

i am so so rry to hear this.... if he has a chance at life with three legs,, I wouldnt hesitate!!!

[mruffruff]

If the amputation will do the trick, I'd go for it in a skinny minute!

I have a dog with one back leg and he does very well. In fact, he can outrun a lot of dogs at the dog park.

I hope something can be done. He seems to be such a sweetie.

Mary

PS. Scruffy lost his leg all the way up to the joint at his pelvis.

[jennifert9]

Thank you....that gives me some hope. The biopsy has not come back yet so I'm praying that the tumor is benign.....I'm scared for Kate though, Jack is her best friend...
I think I will make the 4 hour drive home this weekend to see the 2 of them...:( :(

[tatsxxx11]

Oh Jennifer:(:(:( I'm so sad for you and your friend:( What a beautiful pup. The good news is they were able to get all of the tumor on the right hip! And I too would go with the amputation in a heartbeat if the prognosis was good! Dogs adapt amazingly well to limb ampuation. I'll be keeping you and Kate and Jack in my thoughts and prayers! Please keep us updated. Sandra

[Logan]

Jennifer, when you came back, I wanted to ask about your roommate's dog, but I could not remember his name to save my life. I did remember that he was a Golden Retriever, though.

I'm going to keep Jack and your friend in my prayers. I know this is frightening for her. Keep us up to date as you can, too.

Logan

[jennifert9]

Oh Logan and Sandra, I was hoping you 2 would see this...I am so upset...I love Jack....It doesn't look good but we have to wait and think positive. I pulled out some more old pictures of him but I think I will wait to post them until I get some news....

I have been crying all day...You know those goldens, the steal your heart with their pure goodness and love...

:(

[dragondawg]

In general Liposarcoma is a localized invasive cancer that can undergo metastasis. The usual treatment is surgical removal, thus the recommendation of the Vet for amputation. But it's disconcerting that a tumor was found on the other hip.

If the tumor on the other hip is also Liposarcoma then it has undergone metastasis and amputation won't gain much. Probably it would be a good idea to do an ultrasound to see if there are any other tumors, even if the small tumor on the other hip turns out to be benign.

If the cancer has under gone metastasis then the best chance to give Jack a few more months (possibly up to a year) of quality life is to treat with the Chemotherapy agent Doxorubicin. Concurrently the leg can be given local radiation. The idea being to get the dog into a remission, while decreasing the tumor size and discomfort to the leg. Note Jack should be placed on doxycycline prior to the first treatment to guard against a secondary infection due to tumor lysis.

If Jack has to travel down the Chemo road, then have Kate discuss with the Vet the possibility of using the Navy protocol after the Doxorubicin dose limit has been reached.

In summary: If the cancer has not spread then amputation is the best option as the Vet suggested. If the cancer has spread then Chemotherapy plus local radiation might be the best option. Tell Kate to get an ultrasound performed so they know whether it has spread or not.

Goldens seem to be prone to many cancers. :(

[jennifert9]

Dragondawg, thank you very much for all the information!
I spoke to Kate last night. The biopsy on Jack's left hip was positive for lipsarcoma. The tumor on his right leg was a benign fatty tumor. The vet said they have 3 options right now.
1. Send Jack to Cornell University for another surgery by a specialist that may or may not be able to remove the tumor wrapped around his muscle and bone. The surgery would be extremely difficult for Jack and the doctor and there is no guarantee.
2. Do nothing until Jack feels pain. Kate said he is limping now because of the surgery but he wasn't in any pain before. She just noticed some fatty protrusions on his hips and took him to the vet. Once Jack starts feeling discomfort, removing the leg would be an option.
3. Remove the leg to prevent the cancer from spreading although the chances of it coming back are high because apparently liposarcoma, athough rare, is extremely aggressive.

Kate has decided to let Jack recover fully from the first operation and go from there. She is very comfortable with her decision so I will support her. She does realize that this cancer may ultimately cause Jack's death but she doesn't want him to suffer anymore going through these surgical procedures. He is on many medications right now, both antibiotics and pain killers. I don't know if the vet mentioned chemotherapy and/or radiation as an option to Kate, she didn't mention them to me.

I know that some of you may disagree with Kate's decision but please do me a favor and don't mention it in this thread. Jack is her dog and she loves him very much and wants the best life for him. I also love Kate and love Jack so I will support her and him.

I appreciate all the advice and knowledge you want to share however. And I thank all of you for your kind wishes...Please keep Jack in your thoughts and prayers.
:)

Here is another happy picture of him...
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y23/jennifert9/jackbed.jpg

And one of him with his best friend Duncan...
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y23/jennifert9/jackduncanporch2.jpg

[mruffruff]

Best of luck to both Kate and Jack. Only Kate knows what would be best for them.

We're rooting for them both.

Mary

[Logan]

I don't disagree with her decision at all Jennifer. That's pretty radical surgery that he has just endured. I do think that if it were me, I'd have a second vet or a specialist review his charts and just get that second opinion to be extra certain as she makes her decisions. This can become quite costly, as you know, plus mentally draining. I do hope that Jack will have many more years of life with Kate. We'll continue to keep them both in our prayers.

Logan

[ramanth]

Oh Jenn. :( How devistating for you and Kate. Poor Jack.

I agree with her decision to let Jack heal too. *HUGS*

[tatsxxx11]

Thanks for the update, Jennifer. We are all in support of Kate and whatever her decisoin may be. She loves Jack with all her heart and soul and I'm sure she will do what is best for him:) And Kate and Jack are so lucky to have you and Duncan as their best buds, Jennifer. We all know that along with Kate, your heart is breaking too:( You all continue to be in my thoughts and prayers and hoping the best for precious Jack. When you see Jack, please give him a big hug for me:) And thank you so much for sharing the beautiful pictures...brought tears to my eyes. Love, Sandra

[K9soul]

I did not know Jack before, but as you've stated those golden pups truly steal your heart, and even seeing him here for the first time I'm so very taken with this sweet, gentle boy. I support and understand fully the decision to let him heal, she has to make the decision that she feels will give Jack the best quality of life, and I think that is what she's doing. He will be in my prayers, and I hope with all my heart that he'll continue on, strong and happy for a long time to come. What a very special boy he is.

[dragondawg]

and for sure a leg amputation without any guarantee for success would be a hard decision.

She should look into the Chemo, and possible radiation. I can't speak from first hand experience about radiation. But from what I have heard it would probably cause a skin burn and loss of hair on the area where it's given. It might have a dramatic effect on the cancer mass. The Chemo especially for a dog that has no digestive problems would probably be easily tolerated, and would have a good chance of shrinking the tumor, and by inference help eliminate some of the lameness or pain. I know the word Chemotherapy sounds scarey, and it was for me initially with my lymphoma puppy, but it really isn't bad for dogs. Katie should consult with Cornell and an Oncologist.

Another try at some pallative relief if the cancer has spread to the bone is a bisphosphonate such as Fosamax. These drugs were originally intended to prevent bone reabsorption or use in Osteoporosis. But they also interfer or slow down the progression of bone cancers which liposarcoma can mutate into. The strengthening of the bone then translates into less pain.

[LuvGold00]

Oh, this is so sad. Poor Goldies have such problems with cancer, I will be thinking of Jack often and hope he can pull through this for many more happy years.

[anna_66]

Oh Jennifer, I'm so sorry to hear about Jack. What a tough time for him and your friend. I can't imagine having to make that decision, but as someone already metioned...only she knows what's best.
I will for sure be keeping them both in my thoughts and prayer.

Please keep us updated on his situation.

[jennifert9]

I spoke to Kate yesterday. Jack is doing really well. She hasn't had any further surgery but he doesn't appear to be in any pain. He is eating and playing and acting completely normal and healthy!! :D
In fact, she told me that he has a job now!!! :D He passed his test to become a therapy dog and now her and Jack visit patients at the hospital she works at in Syracuse!!! I'm so happy for the two of them! Kate has been saying for years that she wanted to do something like this and Jack has the best personality in the world for this type of thing. He is the sweetest, most loving, thoughtful dog I have ever met! He always seems to know exactly what a person needs and provides it, from acting silly to make people laugh or just a shoulder to cry on. In fact, before I got Duncan, Jack helped me through many a rough times.
So this is wonderful news! Such a great way for the two of them to spend their days together too.
I knew Jack was an angel on this earth and now he will leave behind a legacy of love. Hopefully not for quite some time though! :)
I have emailed her for recent pictures and will post them as soon as I get them!
Thanks again for all your kind thoughts and best wishes for Jack. He's making us all proud once again! :)

[Logan]

Thank you for the update, Jenn! How wonderful that he is doing so well and is working to make other people happy! :)

[jennifert9]

Here are some recent pictures of Jack...These were taken the day he passed his exam to become a therapy dog! I am so proud of him! :D

http://http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid168/pf94dd0bf95c19999ec2d262d856e7bb5/f422aad1.jpg

http://http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid168/p330809ffb1b3c6ee8037c5a46554d283/f422aaca.jpg

[pnance]

Great news! and congrats to her and Jack. We have a dog which had a large mast cell tumor when we first got him. We had it removed but the vet's couldn't be sure they got it all because of its size and location so we played a wait and see game and kept a close eye on the area. He's been clean for almost 4 years now, so I have every confidence Jack has a lot of time left!!! Congrats!!!:)

[Sudilar]

That is great news!! I'm so glad that Jack is doing well!!! Congrats on becoming a Therapy Dog, too. Wow, this is all wonderful news! :D Thanks for the update!