Don't usually ask, but could use some prayers...

**robinh** · 12-04-2007, 06:25 AM

Thank you so much for your prayers. It means the world to us that you care.

Our worst fear has been realized...it is transitional cell carcinoma.

They are telling us that chemo probably won't help that much. They have recommended a radical surgery, but the chances they are giving us are 50% or less that it willl help at all.

Dick and I are reviewing her options. I am doing research into herbal supplements and some reading on diets. We do have to make a decision within a couple of weeks, so....I'll keep you posted.

**dragondawg** · 12-04-2007, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by robinh

Thank you so much for your prayers. It means the world to us that you care.

Our worst fear has been realized...it is transitional cell carcinoma.

They are telling us that chemo probably won't help that much. They have recommended a radical surgery, but the chances they are giving us are 50% or less that it willl help at all.

Dick and I are reviewing her options. I am doing research into herbal supplements and some reading on diets. We do have to make a decision within a couple of weeks, so....I'll keep you posted.

Ask them why Mitoxantrone and Piroxicam is not an option. It doesn't cure, but will help to give a higher quality of life. At the vary least they should be recommending Piroxicam. There's just too much scientific literature supporting its use.

There are only two supplements I'm aware of that might marginally slow down the spread of the cancer:

1. Fish oil, which has an mild antiangiogenic effect, and also helps normalize lactic acid levels in the blood which are elevated in cancer patients. I gave my 80 lb Lymphoma puppy 4000 mg twice daily. The 8000 mg (e.g. 8-1000 mg gel caps) had no side effects.

2. Artemisinin, which is in short supply due to its application in combating malaria. There are a lot of fly by night internet sites that may be peddling very low purity preparations. There are some studies indicating it might be useful in treating some cancers, but its use with TCC is missing in the literature. It may have no effect against TCC.

Supplements sheldom harm an animal with cancer be it human or dog. Unfortunately they have even less chance of helping. There's all kinds of wild claims on the Internet. I gave my lymphoma puppy varous supplements playing off rather flimsy evidence the supplement might enhance the particular Chemo agent being given at the time. I have no idea if it helped or not. Sometimes it comes down to the desire of just wanting to do something.

**cyber-sibes** · 12-04-2007, 07:31 AM

You & Carly are in our prayers. I know how heartbreaking this diagnosis is, and how unfair - I lost my boy Sherman to lung cancer in July. Enjoy every day with her to the fullest, and hopefully you will find something that will keep her quality of life up for as long as possible. God bless you all.