08 July 2007

Greta's Leg Amputation

Back in early June we noticed our 11 year old Boston Terrier, Greta had a growth about the size of a nickle near the elbow on her right front leg. We took her to the vet about a week later when it became the size of a quarter. He suggested we watch it for a few days. We went back when it didn't go away and the vet referred us to a soft tissue specialist for animals. Now, 4 weeks later, it is the size of a golf ball and as hard as a rock.

It turns out she has hermangiopericytoma. It is a form of cancer, but treatable. The treatment options are surgical removal with radiation, or leg amputation. John and I have struggled with this decision for a week now and we've had several discussions with the veterinary specialist. Since this tumor is located on her elbow, it may be very difficult to remove it all during surgery. This is the reason radiation would be recommended with any surgical procedure. Recovery could be very lengthy due to the extended muscle damage and radiation to the joint. Radiation would be 3 times a week for 6 weeks and there is no promise they can get it all. Greta would have to be under anesthesia for each treatment. The only sure way to know the cancer is totally gone is to amputate her leg. We talked it over at length, weighed all our options and I've cried a lot. We think her best chance at a happy pain free life is to amputate her leg. The surgery is scheduled tomorrow morning and if there are no complication, she'll be able to come home on Tuesday. This has been such a difficult decision since she isn't in any pain with this tumor. I just can't imagine what will go through her head tomorrow when she wakes up from surgery and finds a leg missing. Sort of "what did I do wrong that made them cut off my leg" or "why did my mom let them do this to me." Who knows what they think.

9 comments:

  1. I know that it has been a long time since you have posted this but my boston terrier, a 10 year old, has the same exact cancer in her right leg by her elbow. She had the same cancer in her left leg and we decided to do radiation. The left leg is doing wonderfully. But now we were thinking of amputating her right leg due to this new growth of hemangiopericytoma. I was wondering how your boston terrier did after the surgery?

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  2. Hi Brittany, sorry to hear about your Boston Terrier and I hope she makes a good recovery. We decided to amputate Greta's leg because our vet had indicated there was high propensity of a re-occurance and that frequently it will will come back in the upper body cavity where it becomes impossible to treat. Left untreated, the cancer will grow and rapidly compromise the lung and or heart.

    We are not sorry we made the choice to amputate. It has been almost 8 months and Greta is doing great. The week after surgery was the hardest and I kept questioning myself it we had done the right thing. She was in a fair amount of pain and she and I cried together. After a week her spirts were back and she was her old self, with that wonderful Boston personality.

    She has gained some weight because she doesn't get as much exercise as before, but just last weekend she was out chasing other dogs at our local "bark park". She still jumps up on the furniture and she is still just as lovable. It is our hope she will share many more years with us.

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  3. I'm so glad to have found this. My dog (8 yr old chihuahua) has the exact same thing in the same place. From what you said and everything I've read, I know it will be so difficult to remove all of the tumor since it's on his elbow. I'm come to somewhat be at peace with the idea of amputation. I see the specialist tomorrow morning to make the decision and move forward. Thank for posting your story. Reading it has made me feel better about my decision.

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  4. Thank you for the comment on Buster's blog. And thanks for the advice about not babying him - I'll definitely remember that. Your blog has helped me more than you'll ever know. Your comment came at a great time (his surgery is this morning).

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  5. Our 9 year old boston just had a tumor removed from her left leg. It was very extensive and our vet said amputation may be her only hope. We are waiting for the biopsy results, but they think it is sarcoma. We are torn at what to do. We do not want her to suffer. Any advice from anyone would be greatly appreciated.

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  6. em01meg04-
    My dog went through a similar situation and his leg was amputated less than 2 months ago. He is doing awesome! I don't regret my decision at all. Check out my blog for his story. Good luck!

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  7. Peggy, thank you so much for your blog! It is such a hard decision. Our Dog Fancy had the same type of cancer removed from her outside leg, but this time it was a mass inside under her armpit. Hopefully it is not too late. I just pray for a recovery like yours! Thanks again!

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