Quality of life/Sam's Lymphoma

Julie726 · 07-30-2010, 03:36 PM

Sam was diagnosed with Lymphoma on my birthday, 7-26-2010. He is 14 and the vet said chemo would only extend his life for 10 months to a year, so I opted not to take that route. The vet thinks Sam has about 2 months to live.
Sam lost his appetite and was panting a lot - I just thought it was due to his age and the hot summer in LA... trying not to feel guilty but feel so bad I didn't take him to the vet sooner.

Prednisone is helping him with his appetite and he seems comfortable enough to go on for a while, but I think about the "quality of life" issue all the time. He's not suffering 24/7, but he can't run, can't eat much, and I can feel the swollen kidney and nodes. It's really hard to watch him get so skinny.
I feel terrible that a part of me wants it to be just all over because it's so hard to watch him deteriorate.

Meesh · 07-30-2010, 05:02 PM

Julie,
I am so sorry you need to be here. But, you have found a really wonderful place to be for support and advice. You know your baby best and Sam will tell you when he's had enough. For now, just love each and every moment you have together. In the meantime, and in the interest of prolonging those moments, switch him to a grain free diet (cancer feed on carbs), switch him to bottled or filtered water if he's not already getting that, and put him on a good quality Omega-3. I went the chemo route with my Hamlet along with complimentary holistic treatments, but others here have gone the strictly natural route and can better advise you on your options. I wish you the best on this horrid journey. Keep the faith!
Michelle & Hamlet (and Rufus, too)
Dx 01/29/10 Stage Va, B-cell Lymphoma
Tx 02/01/10
FULL REMISSION 04/26/10
Remission Confirmed 07/16/10

Julie726 · 07-31-2010, 02:34 PM

Thank you Michelle & Hamlet (and Rufus, too).
Sam suddenly got very sick this morning (internal bleeding) and I had to let him go. It happened so fast, it's hard to believe.

Best of luck with your Pooch,

Julie

Meesh · 08-01-2010, 05:05 AM

Oh Julie,
I am so, so sorry about Sam. My deepest condolences! Be kind to yourself in the coming days, weeks and months. And, continue to come here for support; there are plenty on this site who know exactly what you're going through now. Know that Sam is pain free and cancer free playing on the other side until you can be reunited. He'll make his presence known to you shorly so that you'll know all is ok.
Michelle

Benpaws · 08-01-2010, 09:32 AM

Dear Julie,
My heart goes out to you and I am so sorry to hear that you had to let Sam go. You did that out of such love.

The part of the "journey" without Sam is going to be most difficult as it has been for all of us who endured that loss of a faithful friend.

My prayers go out to you and you family and please come and let us know how you are doing.

Blessings,
Joanne & Shadow

07-30-2010, 03:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Julie726 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 10	Quality of life/Sam's Lymphoma Sam was diagnosed with Lymphoma on my birthday, 7-26-2010. He is 14 and the vet said chemo would only extend his life for 10 months to a year, so I opted not to take that route. The vet thinks Sam has about 2 months to live. Sam lost his appetite and was panting a lot - I just thought it was due to his age and the hot summer in LA... trying not to feel guilty but feel so bad I didn't take him to the vet sooner. Prednisone is helping him with his appetite and he seems comfortable enough to go on for a while, but I think about the "quality of life" issue all the time. He's not suffering 24/7, but he can't run, can't eat much, and I can feel the swollen kidney and nodes. It's really hard to watch him get so skinny. I feel terrible that a part of me wants it to be just all over because it's so hard to watch him deteriorate.

07-31-2010, 02:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
Julie726 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 10	Thank you Thank you Michelle & Hamlet (and Rufus, too). Sam suddenly got very sick this morning (internal bleeding) and I had to let him go. It happened so fast, it's hard to believe. Best of luck with your Pooch, Julie

08-01-2010, 09:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
Benpaws Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oakville, ON., CANADA Posts: 970	Sam Dear Julie, My heart goes out to you and I am so sorry to hear that you had to let Sam go. You did that out of such love. The part of the "journey" without Sam is going to be most difficult as it has been for all of us who endured that loss of a faithful friend. My prayers go out to you and you family and please come and let us know how you are doing. Blessings, Joanne & Shadow

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07-30-2010, 05:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
Meesh Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Washington Township (Sewell), NJ Posts: 211	Julie, I am so sorry you need to be here. But, you have found a really wonderful place to be for support and advice. You know your baby best and Sam will tell you when he's had enough. For now, just love each and every moment you have together. In the meantime, and in the interest of prolonging those moments, switch him to a grain free diet (cancer feed on carbs), switch him to bottled or filtered water if he's not already getting that, and put him on a good quality Omega-3. I went the chemo route with my Hamlet along with complimentary holistic treatments, but others here have gone the strictly natural route and can better advise you on your options. I wish you the best on this horrid journey. Keep the faith! Michelle & Hamlet (and Rufus, too) Dx 01/29/10 Stage Va, B-cell Lymphoma Tx 02/01/10 FULL REMISSION 04/26/10 Remission Confirmed 07/16/10

08-01-2010, 05:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
Meesh Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Washington Township (Sewell), NJ Posts: 211	Oh Julie, I am so, so sorry about Sam. My deepest condolences! Be kind to yourself in the coming days, weeks and months. And, continue to come here for support; there are plenty on this site who know exactly what you're going through now. Know that Sam is pain free and cancer free playing on the other side until you can be reunited. He'll make his presence known to you shorly so that you'll know all is ok. Michelle