Canine Bladder Cancer (tcc)

Hi Buffy,
We had very similar sympthoms with our dog. We
treated him from March to July for what we
thought was a urinary tract infection. The
Baytril masked the real problem for us. It
helped his frequency of urination, but after a
couple of months, the problem resurfaced. In May
we too were told that his bladder wall seemed a
bit thick which could be from an infection. He
also lost weight and we were very concerned. In
July, after a visit to the emergency clinic, our
vet suggested an ultrasound, still thinking it
might be kidney stones. That's when we found
three masses. They did a needle biopsy while
they were doing the ultrasound and the results
came back TCC. We were shocked. If I had known
what I know now, I would have had the ultrasound
done in March. Early detection is important with
any cancer. You best know your dog and how your
dog acts. And, you have to listen to your heart
too. You are in my thoughts. Best wishes. Feel
free to contact me anytime.
Ryle's Mom, Shele

Hello again. Thanks for getting back to me. I know I basically have to make a judgement call here, but I'm torn. I know the vets know what they're doing, but I have this feeling that she has been misdiagnosed. On one hand if she does have TCC, I definitly would like to find it early, on the other, I've already spent $600 just for them to tell me she has a UTI. Do I jump the gun and ask for the ultrasound (more $) or should I see where this goes? Who knows, maybe it is just a UTI... Georgie seems to be just fine right now. But I know if she came up with these symptoms again down the road, I'd be kicking myself for not having this done earlier! Your dog was diagnosed in July? How is she/he? Do you have a approximation of life expectancy? I know that if she were to have TCC, I would not treat it other than to keep her comfortable. What's your opinion? My husband loves the dog too, but he's a little upset with what we've paid already... But in the end, he knows what she means to me and the kids and wouldn't tell me not to go ahead.

Hi Buffy -- I am no expert with TCC...just joined this board myself. But I wanted to share with you that my Baxter was diagnosed early and because of that, our vet says he has the "best chance" of all the dogs she has diagnosed with this terrible disease. I understand you have paid the $600 and that is a lot of cash, but it will be far more if you have to undergo aggressive chemo or other treatments to get control of the TCC (at least for as long as you can). I would counsel you to go for the ultrasound (about $200 in my experience) but be sure the doctor performing it is an expert (and not just on an occasional basis). You could always ask your vet, considering the amount you have paid thus far, to consider a reduction in the fee, or at least offer you payment plan. Maybe there is a teaching hospital in your area? You might want to find out. If you love you dog as much as it sounds like you do, it is better to know if TCC is there, than to hope it isn't. If you ignore it, it WILL only get worse. At least if you know, you can make informed decisions about treatment. Let us know how it goes. I wish you and Georgie only the best! Cathleen

Hi Buffy, My baby was also treated for an UTI only to have the symptoms return.I put off having an ultrasound done as well, figuring it wouldn't change anything. But after days of wondering is it TCC ? or hoping it was not I finally went ahead with it. Although hearing that it WAS tcc was difficult at least I am no longer in denial. There is also a urine test - VBTA (has anyone else heard of this test?)- that can be done. My vet was not too keen on it as there can be false positive results but he ran it anyway to pacify me. If it had come back negative I probably would have stopped there and waited, but it did come back positive so that was when I had the ultrasound done. Yes it can run into quite a bit of money, but like Cathleen said if your Vet won't work with you maybe you can call around and find a Vet that will.
Karen

Hi Karen,
The thing that I am unsure of is, when they genuinely have a UTI they have blood in their urine right? Georgie didn't have any blood in her urine, but she was bleeding from the same area. Did anyone else experience this? If I could know for a fact that all UTI's have to have blood in the urine, obviously that's not what she has. I would from there definitly go ahead with the ultrasound. I have heard of the V-BTA test. I actually called the vet and asked if she had that done while there and they didn't even know what that test was... She has two small lumps on here chest and the vet checked those and said they should be fine, but to keep an eye on them and if they seem to grow larger or irregular then they would need some more looking into. It worries me that these lumps might actually be stemmed from a larger problem like TCC. Otherwise, right now she is in perfect health and acting like her normal self. If she was to have another bout with the "UTI" how long would you guess until she would start with those symptoms again? Thanks for all your help. It's really great to talk with people who obviously care just as deeply for their friends as I do.

Buffy,
With my dog is started with frequent urination to the point that she was going in the house. There was no blood the first time she was treated for a UTI, in fact they did not even check her urine figuring if it did not clear up then they would do further testing. The frequency and accidents stopped for about 1 month and when it started up again then the blood appeared in her urine - but not every time. When the vet did a "simple" urine test in the office it did not show anything, but he sent it off for further testing, which came back neg. for a UTI. Kacee had 3 tumors in her foot removed back in March (they were cancerous)- so maybe lumps in other parts of the body can be connected - but don't take that to heart - I really don't know for sure. When Kacee started having her accidents again after the first treatment for UTI I actually thought it was incontenence (she is 13 1/2) but when the blood started that was a different story. I did not notice any other symptoms at the time (figuring her age would account for slowed down activity). Kacee also was panting alot (but we are in Arizona with 100+ temps). And she actually gained weight after her surgery on her foot. And at that point the Vet said she was in remarkably good health for a 13 yr old. So you can imagine my shock when I found out she had TCC.
About having to have blood in the urine for it to be a UTI. My other dog had a UTI many years ago (he was about 8 months) and he had no blood. Just frequent urination which stopped within 2 days of the antibiotics and never returned (he had been in a kennel and the Vet said sometimes that happens because they are unsure where to go and end up holding their urine way too long). This probably isn't much help but it is all I can offer. Karen

Thank you to everyone who has helped me. You've given me a lot more information that has helped! Sometimes it's better to get the info from someone who's gone through this that to just listen to what the vet has to say. I will keep ya'll informed.... Thanks again!

Hi Shele... I hope this message finds all is well with Ryle...I was just wondering if Ryle is having problems with being incontinent?? Gandalf was fine until last Monday and now he is starting to uninate in the house. I know he can't help it. I just hate this.. It seems like EVERYTHING is related to this horrible cancer. If he isn't sleeping well, it's the cancer. If he's too hot, it's the cancer. If he doesn't want his beloved bananas it's the cancer. If I didn't know he had cancer I would not worry.. Now it's all about that. I want to forget he has it and just enjoy the rest of his life. But I can't. I just keep crying and wishing I could erase the tumor and we could all go back to our wonderful pre-cancer days...
Gandalf's Mom Pam

Hi Pam,
This cancer thing is so hard on all of us. I'm
so very sorry to hear about Gandalf. Right now
we haven't had that problem with Ryle, but it
seems things change daily anymore. I feel a bit
overwhelmed somethimes. There are days when he
only eats half of his meals and there are days
when he can't get enough. He wants to be outside
all the time now. He just lays in the grass and
watches the neighborhood. This morning he was
shaking, so we gave him a Tramadol for pain.
Some days are harder than others, but we try not
to let him know we are depressed. As long as he
wants to keep going and he wants to eat, we are
here for him. We love him so very much. Give
Gandalf a hug from us and my thoughts and
prayers are with you guys.
Shele and Ryle B.

Shele,
Could we love these little babies any more.. Overwhelmed is exactly how I have been feeling lately. Gandalf gives me so much joy that I think that is the most heartbreaking. Thank you for all your wonderful words. We missed the blessing of the animals this past Sunday...Maybe we should all do a blanket blessing for our puppies!!!
Pam