The Dog Cancer Survival Guide (82 page)

Of course, getting a second opinion will not always yield a consensus about how to care for your dog – because there is no clear consensus on how to treat some tumor types. As frustrating as this can be when you want “the one answer,” that just may not be possible. If you find yourself torn between opinions, you’ll need to remember that you are your dog’s Primary Health Advocate. Center yourself and use your discernment to proceed.

Other opinions that may be valuable could come from veterinarians who practice something other than traditional western medicine, such as Ayurvedic (a system of medicine from India), homeopathy or Traditional Chinese Medicine. Although I can hear some of my veterinary colleagues gnashing their teeth as I write this, I keep an open mind to other disciplines, as you now know. Western medicine does not have the “cure” for cancer – so who are we to exclude treatments that might help?

Western medicine does not have the “cure” for cancer – so who are we to exclude treatments that might help?

Acupuncture is a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Acupuncturists use extremely fine needles to stimulate certain points on the body and increase the flow of life energy (
qi
, pronounced
chee
) to body parts, associated with the needled points. Although to the western mind, acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulas can seem mysterious, dangerous or downright wacky, TCM has been in use for thousands of years in Asia and has a strong historical record for dealing with many illnesses, including cancer. Even the most diehard western skeptics are usually impressed by studies showing acupuncture is helpful for non-pharmaceutical pain management and nausea suppression. When we western types look for a physical mechanism to explain the way acupuncture works, we note that there are important clusters of nerves (nerve bundles) along some of the meridians, or channels, that hold
qi
.

The needles are fine – slimmer than sewing needles – and the sensations they generate range from a slight tingling to heat to a heavy feeling. Pain is rarely felt when working with a skilled acupuncturist, which is why I recommend that you consult with a veterinarian who is certified in acupuncture. You can find one in your area by using the search features on the American Holistic Veterinary Medicine Association website
www.holisticvetlist.com
and the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture website
www.AAVA.org
.

“I was really blessed to have an extremely supportive and open-minded vet during my Ellie’s battle with cancer. I was able to show him parts of Dr. Dressler’s book and discuss which natural products I wanted to use (K- 9 Immunity, for example), and he was totally open to writing prescriptions for whatever else I needed to get from him (doxycycline). I know some people might not be as lucky to have such a flexible vet. My vet was a very important part of my having access to the full range of cancer-fighting agents.”

– Sarah N. Bertsch, Hudson, Wisconsin

Homeopathy is a European system of medicine, based on the Principle of Similars or “like cures like.” According to this theory, symptoms (cough, fever, headache, pain, swelling, etc.) are the body’s way of releasing an illness, and are, therefore, supported, rather than suppressed. Giving a remedy, which, if given to a healthy individual, would cause the same symptoms, deliberately increases symptoms. While this seems counter-intuitive to many Americans (especially when they find out that homeopathic remedies are extremely high
dilutions
of substances), there is strong evidence that homeopathy, used in conjunction with traditional treatments, helps (human) brain tumors shrink. It may also be useful for other cancer cases.

Homeopathy is a complicated system, and I would look for a highly trained and experienced vet for your team. You can find a homeopath in your area by going online
www.HolisticVetList.com
.

If you have already completed your treatment plan analysis and made your preliminary treatment choices, you probably have a list of questions you need answered. In addition, consider asking your vet, oncologist or any other practitioner, any of the following questions for which you need clarity.

Diagnosis

Are you absolutely sure that this is cancer? How did you make the diagnosis?

What tests have you run? What other tests are available?

Is this cancer rare or common? How many cases have you seen?

Has the cancer spread? To where? How do you know?

Treatments

What do you expect to happen as a result of the treatment(s) you recommend? What is the best possible outcome? What is the worst? How likely is either of those to happen?

If this treatment works, how much time do you think it will gain us?

If this treatment works, how much quality of life do you think it will gain us?

What are the odds this treatment will not work?

Why are you recommending this treatment? Are there any negatives in using this?

What is the probable outcome if we decline this treatment?

Are there other treatment options, and what are the positives and negatives about each one?

Do you have any written material I can take home to read?

How long will this treatment last? How often do I have to come in?

Do I stay with my dog during the treatment, or do I have to leave him with you?

Does my dog need sedation or any other medications during treatment?

Is this treatment uncomfortable in any way for my dog?

Is there any special care I need to give after this treatment? Do I need to be home the rest of the day? The next?

Are there any supplies or over-the-counter medications I will need at home for after-treatment care?

What are the side effects of this treatment? How often do they occur? What do they look like?

How do I know if a side effect is severe enough to warrant calling you for emergency care?

How likely is that?

What do I need to do to prepare my dog for this treatment?

How do dogs normally feel after this treatment? Immediately afterward? In the days that follow? When do they feel normal again?

Are there any foods, supplements or anything else to avoid before or after the treatment?

Are there any new treatments or clinical trials to consider?

How much does this treatment cost? Is the cost mostly up front or spread out over time?

Does my dog have any other (non-cancer) health issues that limit our treatment choices or may affect her outcome?

Does my dog have any other (non-cancer) health issues that may affect her life quality?

If I have a limited budget, which treatment or treatments are my first priority?

Pain Management

Do you think my dog is in pain? How would you treat that?

Do you think this pain is chronic or short-term?

Is there anything else I can do to minimize her pain?

Vet-client Dynamics

What’s the best way for me to contact you when I have more questions?

Do you provide a written cost estimate and may I have one?

What types of payment do you accept? May I spread my payments out over time?

May I have a copy of my dog’s medical files and images?

Are you comfortable with my getting a second opinion, if I need one?

Are you comfortable with my making the final decisions about my dog’s care? Even if I don’t follow your recommendations?

Do you consider yourself conventional? Alternative? Holistic? Will you share your professional guiding principles with me?

Even though that last question may feel awkward, asking it is important, because the answer will reveal a lot. My philosophy is that dogma of any kind does not belong in medicine. If a treatment may help and is safe, I am all for it, no matter where it comes from. If you agree with me, you might pay close attention to both the words and body language the practitioner uses when sharing her philosophy. Her bias might be revealed in subtle ways. If she is privately thinking “those holistic guys are all quacks” or “Western medicine does more harm than good,” it’s important that you know it so you can proceed appropriately.