First steps…

After receiving the diagnosis the first thing we did were abdominal and chest x-rays to make sure his cancer had not metastasized.  He wasn't super cooperative for the x-rays and afterward as he laid on the ground in the x-ray room I started crying and looked down at him.  As he stared up at me with his big brown eyes I started to feel guilty.  Guilty that I hadn't caught his cancer sooner, guilty for what I knew he was going to go through for treatment, guilty that he felt so scared and I couldn't explain it to him.  Benson is really the family dog, even though he has slept in bed with me for the past 8 years, and we all know my mom is his favorite person, but damn it if his big eyes don't melt your heart!

So once we saw his x-rays were clear it was time to start thinking about consulting either an oncologist or a surgeon.  I debated about it with the doctors at my practice and we finally decided to start with oncology.

I am fortunate to live in an area with so many specialists to choose from, and they are all extremely qualified!  But for those of you that know me I can be a little nuts when it comes to my fur family.  I think working in the veterinary field also gave me a different perspective on things.  So unlike most people I know, I took Benson to see three different oncologist before selecting one.  At around $200 per consultation it was pricey just to decide who I wanted to let treat him - thankfully I have pet insurance which I will discuss in more detail later!

Again every single oncologist I saw was a board certified veterinary oncologist with a lot of experience.  I would recommend all of them but it simply came down to who I felt the best connection with and presented me with a treatment plan that I felt comfortable with.

I started with Dr. S at VCA Southpaws in Virginia.  She came highly recommended to me by a client whose golden retriever was treated by her for osteosarcoma.  They clearly didn't want you to feel like you were at a veterinary hospital, based on the antique desk and high back living room chairs my mom and I sat in.

Dr. S was a warm and friendly person and she listened closely while we went over all of his history and the results for tests we had already performed, then she took him out of the room to perform an exam.  You could see her expression was different when she walked back into the room with him.  She hesitated before she spoke but her tone was sad and dejected when she finally did.  The mass was huge and she said she was 98% confident there was no way it could be surgically removed.

Her suggestion for treatment:  Palliative care which would involve chemotherapy and an oral medication called Palladia, which works as a growth inhibitor.  At best we would get 6 months to a year before we would have to make the decision to euthanize him.

We thanked Dr. S for her time and headed towards the front desk to pay for the consult.  After we put Benson in the car my mom hugged me and we both cried; 6 months wasn't good enough for either of us, I wanted another opinion.


#TeamBenson

Benson

10 years ago we brought an adorable English Springer Spaniel puppy home.  We named him Benson and he quickly settled into our home and our hearts.  He goes to the vet for yearly checkups and has never had any major health problems.

He still loves to lay in the Ivy!

He is scared of the water and would probably make a terrible hunting dog!  He is a big baby and loves to sit on laps.  When I brought home a 1 week old kitten 2 years ago he stepped up and took over the role of momma cat.  He cleaned her, protected her, and tolerated it when she tried to nurse from him.  He is still the most nurturing and we always know who the culprit is when one of the 3 cats is soaking wet, "grooming session with Benson!" someone will laugh and say.


I started working at the vet 6 years ago so sadly I am used to seeing dogs with cancer.  No matter the age or breed of dog its never easy watching an owner receive a diagnosis.  Their shock and initial panic, followed by their debate and decision to pursue treatment or not - which is sadly often determined by their financial situation - leaves you feeling helpless.  Nothing can prepare a person for the news that their beloved family member only has 6 months left to live.  Or that it will cost upwards of $6,000 for treatment that may not work.  Not long ago I was reading an article in a veterinary journal that said 1 in 4 dogs will be diagnosed with cancer.  I remember being surprised and commenting on the high number to one of the doctors I work with.  I didn't realize not long after that day, Benson would be diagnosed with cancer.

During a rectal exam Dr. Scalco discovered a large mass.  With her finger in his rear end, she suddenly had a worried look on her face and the moment she asked "did you know about this mass?", my stomach dropped.  She had Dr. Fu come in and feel the mass before they did a fine needle aspirate to send to the lab for diagnosis.

As I stood there sobbing, everyone in the office told me not to panic, it might not be anything to worry about!  They said they would keep their fingers crossed and pray for him, but we all knew it probably wasn't going to be good news.

After the longest 24 hours of my life we received the lab report, Benson had an anal gland adenocarcinoma.

Suddenly I was that shocked owner, the one who never thought their pet would have cancer!  The one who is suddenly overcome with fear, and panic.  The one who despite all of my experience, still looked at my coworkers (his primary vet) for guidance and instruction.  "He can't have cancer, he isn't even acting sick!" I would say, while sitting at work staring at the cytology report, but i knew I had to accept it.

Everything happened so quickly, it was overwhelming and I felt lost.  Luckily I work with some amazing people who also love Benson, and they immediately reassured me that we would get through this together.

So this is Bensons journey through cancer treatment…




I will update frequently with news and information on his health and treatment plan.  Please keep him in your thoughts and send him good vibes!