First, thank you for all of your positive thoughts for us as we approach yet another hurdle. I didn’t want to share until I knew more, and today we do.
The news is cautiously good, a little bad and somewhat ugly. First, the bad: Ray has two tumors in his right lung, one quite large (baseball-sized) and one quite small. The large one is in the middle right lobe, the small one in the bottom right lobe.
The good: through CT scan and fine needle aspiration, the big one has been determined to be a primary tumor and the cytology indicates they are Bronchoalveolar carcinomas. In other words, they are NOT metastatic tumors that have originated from somewhere else and we are pretty sure they are the least serious type of primary lung tumor that he could potentially have. The nerve sheath tumor that resulted in his foreleg amputation a little over a year ago is totally unrelated.
The ugly: Surgical removal of both affected lobes is the advised treatment, and that’s what we’re going with. According to the oncologist, Ray will still have 75% of his lung capacity post-lobectomy. This surprised me, frankly, but apparently the middle right lobe is kind of an extra that isn’t used much, as the dr explained it. Unfortunately, the main tumor is large. The docs aren’t sure if the second little tumor is an indication of spread or is an “incidental” tumor.
The prognosis is up in the air. On the plus side, Ray has hardly any symptoms at this point. He sounds congested in the chest sometimes and maybe coughs once a day, if that, and has never coughed up blood. He still has a great appetite and is alert and active (although we are being careful to keep him as quiet as possible.) Also, the tumor is on the periphery of the lungs and his lymph nodes appear to be unaffected. All of these factors will work in his favor. We are being told that if all goes well, the surgery should buy him at least a year. It could possibly even cure him, but we won’t know until the tumors are tested in the lab after surgery. Of course, if he makes it through all of this, we’ll be doing follow-up x-rays every 4-6 months for the rest of his sweet life.
So that’s where we’re at. Surgery is scheduled for Tuesday. Please send pawsitive thoughts – we’re going to need a truckload.
Sending good thoughts Ray’s way – At least there is a little good mixed in with the bad and you have a plan. Now we just all work on the most pawsitive thoughts possible and help Ray heal from this next hurdle.
We’ll be thinking of you on Tuesday. Please keep us updated.
Take care-
Luanne & Spirit Shooter
I will cross all fingers and paws here that this goes well for Ray. May this be a whole new beginning for Ray, the beginning of the best of the rest of his life.
Shari
Oh gosh, thanks for the update. You have certainly made yourself knowledgeable and have done your research.
We are sending entire freight trains of positive thoughts your way, along with filling up some jumbo jets full of positive enrgies too! We’re throwing in some buckets of ice cream too!
We’ve got all tripawd paws crossed over here and that’s a lot of empowermemt!
How ’bout taking lots of pictures and posting someon ere for us! We’d love to see more of Sweet Ray!
(((((((hugs to all))))))))))
Sally and Happy Hannah
I will definitely be keeping Ray in my thoughts and prayers. It sounds like you have a very good oncologist and from what you have described (primary vs metastasis and on peripheral) these are pluses — and of course Ray is an amazing dog. Lots of hugs and prayers for you guys.
All in all I think that sounds optimistic!
You are definitely in our thoughts, lotsa love coming your way. I agree with Kathy, Ray has a pawesome team on his side that will give him the best care any dog could ask for. We hope everything goes well with the lobectomy, please keep us posted OK?