Confused and Overwhelmed-Diagnosed Anal Sac Carcinoma (Woody has passed)

[spdd]

Well I'm sorry to hear this, but what are the options? If it's only in two lymph nodes can both the anal sac and nodes be removed? Would chemo or radiation be an option? Are there not chemo pills a dog can take?

I have no clue at all how any of this affects the dog. I did see a woman who herself was having radiation and her dog was having both radiation and chemo at the vets office but I didn't ask her what for. The dog was a little terror in the waiting room and you'd never know it was sick.

I hope there are some reasonable options for you. Please take care, I certainly empathize with you when you say "I'm done."

[molly muffin]

oh no, I'm very sorry to hear that two lymph nodes are affected.
Yes, we all understand that cost can be prohibitive. So, what did they tell you might be options? If you do nothing, what kind of prognosis is there? Just to live out his life?
Big Hugs Tracy, definitely have you and Woody held close to our hearts.
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[Squirt's Mom]

Aw, crap, Tracy. I was really hoping for a better report. But don't get discouraged just yet. Check out all your options, including ways to cover the costs of surgery and treatment IF the vets agree Woody is a viable candidate with a good prognosis after surgery. Gather as much info as you can about Woody's case and make your decisions based on that info. If it just isn't feasible for whatever reason for him to have this surgery, then accept the situation as best you can and try to enjoy each and every moment with him for as long as you can.

What you cannot do, is feel guilty regardless of the decisions you make. We all can only do as much as we can do; we are all limited in some way and must work within those limitations whether financial or due to the state of our baby's health or age. You have already gone far and above what many, many people would in your shoes. Woody knows he is loved and that is all he knows. He does not know he is so ill nor what his future may hold - only that his mom loves him and that is all he needs to make his world complete.

We will be by your side every step of the way, honey. You are still not alone.
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

[goldengirl88]

Tracy:
Just got home from Tipper's ACTH and read this. I feel like a punch to the gut. I am so terribly sorry. Again as Leslie said what is the prognosis? Is there anyone that would help financially? Would your hospital consider payments, and is that an option? I am feeling so bad for you, I know the place where you are at. Please don't put blame on yourself. Maybe we can think of some solution together??? We are all here in this with you. Blessings
Patti

[doxiesrock912]

Tracy,
can they remove the lymph nodes? Or, since it's microscopic, maybe a few doses of chemo will do the trick?

Please look at Care Credit as an option. Many vets also formulate payment plans.

[Woodydog]

Thank you everyone for your kind words, I,m just emotionally exhausted tonight I can,t even cry I want to but I,m too numb.

Woody is back to normal tonight still has a touch of diar but is playing with a toy pig at the moment, he does make me laugh

Emma my IMS was lovely on the phone earlier, she was very sympathetic she couldn't say sorry enough but its not her fault. She gave me 4 options for Woody

1. The Gold Scheme (preferred option) which is surgery to remove anal sacs and the affected lymph nodes then chemo or radio which ever suits him best prognosis 1.5 to 3 years.
2. The Silver Scheme - surgery to remove anal sacs and affected lymph nodes - no chemo or radio prognosis maybe a 1 to 1.5 years
3. The Bronze Scheme - Chemo only prognosis 6months to 1 year
4. Or do nothing and let him live his life as it is prognosis a few months at most.

The cost of the surgery alone for the gold/silver scheme would be £2,400 then the chemo ontop of that which I,ve no idea what it would cost and how much he would need. I can afford the surgery as I have £2,500 left on my insurance which I contacted them today and they will pay out on the surgery but there is nothing left for the chemo and I,ve already spent all my savings trying to get him diagnosed. Now I,m trying to be sensible and calm about all this as I know time is of the essence where Terry is concerned and as this is an aggressive type then I need to make a decision quite quickly. I want to do whats best for Woody and not be selfish and do it for me. I don,t know if I can put him through surgery knowing that if he had the chemo he would have a good prognosis. But putting him through the surgery alone knowing that there was a possibility that there were still some Terry cells floating around his system and that the surgery could maybe only give him a few months more if the cells were to latch on and become Terry,s.

I know I,m the only one that can make this decision but I wish someone else would do it for me, this is killing me inside

[labblab]

Is there a way to get an estimate for the cost of chemo? I am thinking that knowing that cost might help clarify your treatment options. Some chemo agents are very expensive; others, not so much. In fact, prednisone is sometimes used to treat some forms of canine cancer and it is a very inexpensive medication...

Marianne

[FemaleK9]

There are veterinary schools at the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. They might have clinical trials that Woody would qualify for that would reduce or even eliminate some of the costs.

Just doing a quick search, I found this website that has some ideas that might help: FightCanineCancer.com. I'll keep looking to see what I can find, but I think your first step might be to contact your vet and see if they can find out about any clinical trials or programs at the veterinary schools.

[goldengirl88]

Tracy;
We have program in the US for pets that need life saving treatments and the owners cannot afford it. Can you research anything on your computer about this where you are? Do you have a Jack Russell Club there? They may be your best bet as they want to maintain the breed, and could possibly help financially. It may not be that much for the chemo. Can you call back and get a chemo estimate? Could you make payments on the chemo? The clinical trials are also an option. You got this far so I am just trying to think of anything that may help. What about the makes of the Chemo drugs, could you possibly contact them and work something out that way? Please don't give up, I am afraid you may regret it. With the surgery being paid by the insurance that is a big blessing. All I am saying is research all your options well so you know you did all you could. Whatever you decide we are with you on it 100%. We are all still here to help you, lean on us we will hold you up. God Bless You and Woody.
Patti

[Squirt's Mom]

Another option - I see folks on Facebook raising funds for their pups for all sorts of reasons and reaching their goals. There used to be a place to do this called ChipIn but that site is now defunct. There is another site that works the same way but I can't remember the name of it! If you have a PayPal account, you could set up a FB page for fund raising for Woody, telling his story and what the expected costs are then use the PayPal account as the place to make donations for his care. This gives you the potential to reach a world-wide base. While some folks may not be able to give much at all, every penny counts. Even when they can't contribute, they can share so another person who can help will see your page and Woody's story.