The symptoms appeared in February '09. Oakley started to get a bit sneezy and would start these mild "snuffing" episodes, which I describe as him trying to snort something out of his snout. I didn't think anything of it, really. He was scheduled to visit the vet for some blood work in anticipation for an upcoming dental visit. The results came back with just a tiny elevated white blood cell count - an 18. Apparently, 15 is within normal range. At the time, the vet wasn't very worried - Oakley is a very anxious dog and apparently anxiety can increase WBCs. I decided to hold off on the dental work and get him re-checked a few months later.
Over the next several months his nasal symptoms started to increase and he was having these "snuffing" fits almost every day for brief periods of time. I honestly thought it might be allergies, so I continued to postpone getting him re-checked. However, by July I decided I needed to get him in because he really needed his dental work completed and I was starting to get a little worried about what was causing his "sniffing" fits. Unfortunately, after re-checking his bloodwork, his WBCs were through the roof at 27, clearly indicating there was a problem somewhere. He was not acting sick, nor did he look sick, and he was his same usual energetic self. However, I had a feeling it was related to his nasal symptoms.
The next set of procedures was to get a more detailed look at his blood and to get some xrays. The vet was not going to originally take any shots of his nasal cavity or skull as she thought the nasal symptoms were a coincidence, but I said I wanted them and okay'ed him being sedated to complete the x-rays. When I came to pick him up, the doctor explained to me that his lungs and chest area looked good but didn't say much about his nasal cavity, just that the radiologist at the U would be able to better conclude if there was an issue. I knew she knew something and I asked her if it was cancer, but she just would not give me a straight answer. The bloodwork was also being done elsewhere and results would take a couple of days.
The results of the additional bloodwork again indicated and even higher WBC, just 1 week since the last check, and it was shown that he was creating "bands" or what I guess are called immature white blood cells. Apparently, his body needed them as fast as possible they were not fully developing. As far as he results of the xrays, the radiologist indicated that there was something that looked to be a soft tissue mass. My regular vet however was just avoiding saying it was cancer and said further testing needed be completed. She said it could be fungal, but I knew it wasn't. She then got us scheduled at the U of M for a CT scan and rhinoscopy for the next week. Needless to say, all tests concluded that he did indeed have a fleshy mass growing in his upper right nasal cavity and surrounding his right eye, in the sinus cavity (but thankfully not in the eye socket itself). Then the worst news a few days later - the biopsy results confirmed that the mass was malignant, specifically, nasal adenocarcinoma.
My husband and I were shocked and heartbroken and I guess I was just basically in denial because from all appearances Oakley looked like a healthy, normal dog. Although he is getting older, he is only 8!! The doctor at the U who did the rhinoscopy told me that there were a few options available to us: Radiation, surgery and/or a drug called Piroxicam, an non-steroid, anti-inflammatory that apparently helps block an enzyme the tumor uses to grow. It doesn't cure it, but does slow it down and helps keep symptoms under control. He told me if it was his dog that he would just stick with the Piroxicam because radiation therapy was quite expensive and then proceeded to give Oakley about a 6-9 month survival time. I just couldn't believe it and couldn't accept it. Not my Oakley! He explained how the tumor could grow outwards, deforming his face and maybe make his eye bulge out. He told us how it could grow down into his throat making it so he couldn't eat very well, and could cause him to have difficulty breathing and that he could start suffering from bad nose bleeds. Then he said if we had further questions about possible treatment plans, we should contact the Oncology department and then wished us good luck. I don't know, it kind of pissed me off the way he sort of brushed us off, because I felt as though I was just punched in the gut hearing what this horrible disease was going to do to my beautiful and sweet boy.
We proceeded with visiting the oncologist in the hopes of doing something for Oakley that would prolong his life and/or relieve his symptoms and to try and get all of our questions answered. The visit gave us our first glimmer of hope. The Oncologist said that since Oakley was overall a very healthy dog and that the cancer was confined, he was a good candidate for radiation therapy. I am hoping she was sincere and not just wanting us to go that route to use him as a "lab rat" so to speak. I did ask her if it was her dog what would she do. She told me that if money was not an object she would proceed with radiation therapy, and her assistant also said the same. I don't think they were being insincere; they seemed a lot more caring than the first doctor and hopeful that we would have positive results, and they really did fall in love with Oakley on the spot. We decided that we wanted to try the "curative intent" radiation therapy, or "definitive" radiation therapy route; I've seen both terms used interchangably on my documentation. It's a very intense and grueling schedule, but the goal is to sterilize as many cancer cells as possible and control the tumor long term, and there is a possibility of temporary remission. He will be receiving 20 treatments over the course of 4 weeks. It appears that most dogs handle the treatment pretty well (the U handles about 2-8 patients per day!) and that is what I'm hoping for with Oakley. There are going to be side effects; redness, possible skin problems like erythema, ulcerations, mild or persistent nasal discharge, perhaps sores or burns in his mouth, and possible damage to his eye (as a portion of it could be in the path of the radiation). These symptoms apparently start to appear after 2 weeks into treatment, but all should heal (except for maybe the eye damage). I am praying that his side effects are mild or just on the verge of moderate. There are worst side effects, but I don't want to mention them, and fortunately, the chances are very small of having major complications. We also have Oakley on Piroxicam, which thankfully has been doing wonders in controlling his "snuffing" fits - he rarely has them at all anymore. I hope the combination of both therapies will give us a fighting chance in beating back this cancer. Thankfully, the tumor itself is contained within the nasal cavity and has not infiltrated other areas, and his symptoms seemed mild to other accounts that I have read, so I am hoping that we caught this early enough that this treatment can make a difference and help prolong his life.
I think I cried for 2 weeks straight after finding out and it hasn't been any easier for my husband. I just can't sit back and let this disease win right off the bat without a good fight. Oakley is worth fighting for and I love him so much. However, the last thing I want to do is make this more difficult for him or make him endure more pain and suffering. If I feel that this treatment is putting too much stress on him and causing him too much discomfort, I will make the decision to stop it and then just try and treat the cancer as best I can to make him as comfortable as possible and as happy as possible up until the very end.
Honestly, I still cannot believe this...but unfortunately it is our reality right now.
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