My Dog was diagnosed with Transitional Cell Carcinoma

by Marie Smith
(Cleveland, OH)

2.5 years ago, my loving and faithful canine companion, Sable, was diagnosed with Transitional Cell Carcinoma, or Bladder Cancer. At the time, she was a healthy, happy, fairly energetic 11.5 year old Chow/Retriever mix whose major complaint had been some arthritis in her back and hips.

During the winter, I noticed she was straining to urinate and had blood in her urine, so took her in to the vet, who treated her for a bladder infection.

After that course of antibiotics failed, he prescribed another course of medicine, which also failed. The third trip included the possibility of bladder or kidney stones, and so I consented to have an ultrasound of her abdomen, where they discovered a thickening of her bladder and the possibility of cancer. TCC cells in her urine confirmed this diagnosis, which was horrible, since both of my parents had recently died from cancers.

Sable's cancer was not resectible, so we began treatment with Feldene, or Peroxicam, a standard treatment and one which has had very little side effects and has worked wonderfully both to slow the rate of growth of the cancer, and help with pain management. She has been taking 10mg. every other day for 2.5 years, intermittently dosing back to back when she seems to be in pain, with relatively infrequent doses of antibiotics.

Up until recently, she has been holding her own, eating, playing, walking every day, going on longish hikes in the park once or twice a week, and just generally loving life.

In the last 6 months, however, she has been experiencing some incontinence, and in the last two months, is becoming more winded on shorter walks and is tiring easily, straining to urinate more with less success.

Several days ago, while rubbing her belly I discovered two sizeable lumps on either side of her groin which are now feeling more tube-like and less lump-like, which leads me to believe she is experiencing lymph backup due to mets.

The prognosis for her 2.5 years ago was a generous 6 months - 1 yr., and I've been so happy to have had her stick around for so long, but I can tell she's not feeling well now, and even though she is still eating and drinking and walking, I believe her days are coming to a close. I am waiting for a signal from her as to the time to have her process eased, because I do not want her to suffer.

She has been a fantastic canine 'sister' and, as is usual when a loved one is nearing the end, I'm feeling anxious and sad and a bit hypervigilant. I love my dog.

Blessings to all you canine caregivers who are lovingly caring for your dogs experiencing cancer.