CancerCompass message board discussion started by emacyam on 11/18/2007 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,18075,0.htm Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hi,I am not certain if anyone is around at this time but I thought of posting my messsage just in case.My 3 1/2 year old Shih Tzu Diva has gone ultrasound last Friday and it revealed a mass in her bladder.  The doctors are hopeful that it is not cancer given her age, however, the location of the mass only indicates one thing TCC.  Diva has been having blood in her urine and it is getting worse.  At first, my vet tried antibiotics thinking it is only UTI since she is very young.  Two rounds of different antibiotics and no luck.  Her urine (with blood) became frequent and had difficulty deficating. Inspite all these, I am a bit hopeful and happy since she's still active and eating well.  However, last night was probably her worst night.  She was tossing and turning all night, and occassionally she would groan.  I don't think she slept at all.She has an appointment today for a surgery.  I am scared.  Is this the right decision to make or will it just make matters worst for her?  Given her current condition should I let her go and not suffer anymore?  I am just scared that the surgery will just keep her in pain.  emacyam Sun, 18 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT Before you have invasive surgery, please go to the Pet Cancer board here on Cancer Compass and read the message I posted last week about a less invasive surgical technique, and about how to get to other messages from people who have been posting on this topic for years. If she is in pain, they also should have prescribed the anti-inflammatory piroxicam for her, a standard canine tcc treatment which greatly increases their comfort, unless for some reason she is allergic to NSAID medications. If she starts taking piroxicam, she needs to be on antacids and other stomach and g/i protectant meds. too, as the drug is very hard on the g/i tract. Good luck and please explore all your options and get second opinions first. On 11/18/2007 emacyam wrote:Hi,I am not certain if anyone is around at this time but I thought of posting my messsage just in case.My 3 1/2 year old Shih Tzu Diva has gone ultrasound last Friday and it revealed a mass in her bladder.  The doctors are hopeful that it is not cancer given her age, however, the location of the mass only indicates one thing TCC.  Diva has been having blood in her urine and it is getting worse.  At first, my vet tried antibiotics thinking it is only UTI since she is very young.  Two rounds of different antibiotics and no luck.  Her urine (with blood) became frequent and had difficulty deficating. Inspite all these, I am a bit hopeful and happy since she's still active and eating well.  However, last night was probably her worst night.  She was tossing and turning all night, and occassionally she would groan.  I don't think she slept at all.She has an appointment today for a surgery.  I am scared.  Is this the right decision to make or will it just make matters worst for her?  Given her current condition should I let her go and not suffer anymore?  I am just scared that the surgery will just keep her in pain.   Sams Mom Sun, 18 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT This is my first post. First of all I wish you all the best in this fight for the lives of our pets and my sincere condolences to those who have lost the battle.Ticker is a 12 yr. old female Westie just diagnosed with TCC. She will have laser surgery tommorrow (11/19) to "blast" the tumor away. I know that the TCC will probably return. The good thing for Ticker is that she had no symtoms and TCC was discovered accidently when an ultrasound was done to get a liver biopsy. Her Vet said that she would probably die of something else before TCC would kill her. After reading many posts on this board, I am not that optomistic. Her Vet said that she will be on Piroxicam. I am also planning to give her Graviola becuse of what I have read on this board. In surfing the web on Graviola, I found that a university has just started conducting some trials for canine TCC on a product called Gravizon which apparently contains graviola and other materials. I wondered if any one is using Gravizon and what have the results been. Thank you for any comments and help.   Tickers Mom Sun, 18 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT iposted this message and Im not sure that I put it in the right spot.  any help?we just found out today out silky terrier has bladder cancer.  with her other health problems surgery is not an option.  I am just looking for as much information as I can find.  I cant stand the thought of her being in pain or suffering... but I can not imagine having to make the choice of putting her to sleep.  right now she is eating well, and for her age (11) she is pretty spunky.  she has been being treated of uti for several weeks, the antibiotics seem to make her feel better then when she is off them for a few days the syptoms seem to get worse again.   she has a hard time urinating, straining and amy trips in and out the door...the medicine seems to ease that some.  I guess what I am looking for is some suggestions to ease discomfort ect.  I keep reading here about 'raw' food and am not sure what you are referring to.  if anyone could enlighten me I would be so grateful.. also any suggestions wiould be so welcome.  I guess I am just looking for that miracle, if not the miracle then the strength to go thru this and keep my sanity.  I do believe my heart is breaking.  thank you all so much for posting and for letting me know I am not alone.  cathi cathiw01 Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 11/18/2007 Tickers Mom wrote:This is my first post. First of all I wish you all the best in this fight for the lives of our pets and my sincere condolences to those who have lost the battle.Ticker is a 12 yr. old female Westie just diagnosed with TCC. She will have laser surgery tommorrow (11/19) to "blast" the tumor away. I know that the TCC will probably return. The good thing for Ticker is that she had no symtoms and TCC was discovered accidently when an ultrasound was done to get a liver biopsy. Her Vet said that she would probably die of something else before TCC would kill her. After reading many posts on this board, I am not that optomistic. Her Vet said that she will be on Piroxicam. I am also planning to give her Graviola becuse of what I have read on this board. In surfing the web on Graviola, I found that a university has just started conducting some trials for canine TCC on a product called Gravizon which apparently contains graviola and other materials. I wondered if any one is using Gravizon and what have the results been. Thank you for any comments and help.HI  Ticker and fellow Westie Mom..Our beloved Westie, Spike, 12yr and 8 months,  was diagnosed last Friday. We are taking him to a specialist this Friday to get a scope and biopsy. His tumor is 3 cm and his prostate is enlarged to 3 cm on ultrasound to see what's what. We have him on peroxicam , a stomach med cimetadine, and glucosomine for the lining. It all started with UTI's that didn't clear up. Spike threw up after 2 days on the meds but now he eats a scrambled egg, rice ,and veggie cheese in the morning before the pillls and so far so good.He appears happy and eats well and can go thru the night w/out peeing. Most of the time he pees yellow but at the end he has a few drops of blood. I found out recently that Westies and Scotties are really prone to this disease and there's even a study going on for Westies on this. I want to ask about introducing the gravicon or graviola. Did you do that along with traditional meds like piroxicam ? Please if anyone can answer  that I would really like to know. Ticker's Mom. . Please let me know how she did with the laser surgery. My heart is with you and all of us going thru this right now.    westielove Mon, 24 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT