Canine Bladder Cancer

On 1/24/2007 Debbielou wrote:

Hello Debi...my 14 yr old golden retriever was just diagnosed with TCC...was wondering if you could possibly share the info you have discovered while researching...am open to anything!

On 1/14/2007 Debimac wrote:

This website is such a wonderful find!  My 15+ year old bischon, Bonnie, was diagnosed with TCC last week.  We have been struggling for days over what to do.  Our vet originally recommended surgery.  After much research, I decided no way.  All that I read, showed no benefit and, perhaps, a possible negative - seeding - spreading the cancer. (Also possible with a needle biopsy.  Go to the Purdue Study on Scotties. )   I suggested  Piroxicam as an alternative to our vet, which he has taken the time to research.  He is having a dosage compounded at our local pharmacy especially for Bonnie.  After reading all of these letters, I was so  happy to hear about the other meds and herbal supplements that we can use.   I am curious as to changing her diet.  I have read about eliminating carbs.  She has been on Presciption diet ID for years.   I am also interested in the herbal supplements - echinacae, goldenseal and flax seed oil.  Any more results?  Bonnie has been my best friend for all of her life.  It is so hard to make decisions for someone you love so much.  She is so active and lively.  She doesn't display any of the "bad" effects of this disease.  I can't believe this is happening.  This is a horrible road to go down with no good ending.  I pray for all of us and our "friends".  Debi

I am so sorry to hear about your Golden.  I know how devasting that information is.  As for what I have learned, surgery just didn't sound very promising.  Even my vet admitted that out of 50 procedures, his success rate of eliminating the cancer was only 5.   It is very aggressive and fast growing. I have Bonnie taking 2mg of piroxicam a day with food.  Tests have shown it can shrink the growths and help relieve the symptoms. I also discussed Bonnie's diagnosis with our previous vet and he highly recommended the Piroxicam.  It has to be compounded by a pharmacist for her size.  She also takes 1ml 3X/day of misoprostol for her stomach.  Piroxicam can cause stomach problems.  My research has caused me to drastically change her diet slowly.  We are eliminating as many carbs as we can.  They feed the cancer.  My goal will be to have her eating meat and vegies only which I have been preparing.  I either bake or boil the meat to cut down on the fat.  My vet also recommended a good canine multi vitamin to help boost her immune system.   She also gets the following daily:  1/8 tsp. Cod liver oil, 1/4 tsp. D-zyme Powder (by Solid Gold), and acidophilus (to help with the antibiotics she is on).  I will be adding a combo of echinacea and goldenseal drops within the next week.   I have been warned that this stuff really "stinks" so it might be a challenge to administer.  I spent a long time at our health food store discussing all of these supplements with a very informative salesperson and feel really good about what I learned.  All of these vitamins and supplements help boost their immune system and help fight the cancer.  She is really loving her new diet and acts perfectly fine; except when she has to urinate.  It is so hard to believe she is sick.  She has been on this program for less than 2 weeks, so I haven't seen any marked improvement but am hopeful.  I read it can take up to a month for the piroxicam to shrink the growths.  She has 2 areas of concern and one is in the trigone area.  Hope this was helpful.  If you learn anything else, please let me know.  At this point, I just want her to be happy and painless. 

Bonnie's Mom