Int.Ch. Liberty's Chelsea V Vindane CGC, TT
October 11, 1993-Feb. 15, 2002
Sire: Deutchlands Kociac CD, CGC
Dam: Elms Lady Windsor V Vindane
What could take a magnificent girl like this and change her life forever?
Cancer-Osteosarcoma!
Unless you have heard these words you can not even imagine the emotions that rush through ones body. Chelsea started limping while I was out of town, and a small lump was detected just above the hock. I knew in my heart it was cancer, but waited to see what the vets would have to say. After x-rays, it was decided to do a bone marrow biopsy to be sure. I don't believe I will ever put another dog through that procedure again. The biopsy was inconclusive, but it caused the tumor to triple in size almost overnight, and where Chelsea had been limping before, she was completely non-weight bearing on the leg and in extreem pain. As an alternative therapy prectitioner I wanted to do what I could for her without causing any complications. Acupressure is contraindicated when cancer is present so I chose T-Touch and Healing Touch as the modalities to help ease her pain until decisions could be made. Within a week of diagnosis, after more x-rays of her lungs, and an echo of her heart it was determined she was a good candidate for amputation and chemo.
This is Chelsea, with her sister Contessa, in the veterans parade at our Great Dane National, October 2000. She is 7 years young here.
Chelsea has such a fine spirit that through all of this all she kept saying to me was, "Just take the leg off, it hurts." And so she underwent surgery. All went well, although I was nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof. Chelsea recieved Energy Work before after the surgery. I did some acupressure after the surgery and then left her in capable hands until I could come visit the next day. I was allowed all the time I wanted to visit and gave her a Healing Touch treatment as well as T-Touch and a little acupressure. I also massaged her back and other legs. The next day I was allowed to bring her home. I continued the current therapy and started to look for other things I could do to help her recover.
Chelsea is looking at a min pin, which seems to be hiding under her ramp.
Chelsea had her first chemo treatment a week after surgery. She was to be given two different medications, cisplaten on thursday with tons of fluids and doxyreuberson on friday shortly before coming home. One hard on the kidneys and liver the other hard on the heart. Blood work was required both one week after treatment and the day before the next treatment. The treatments were three weeks apart.
She had Energy Work after the treatment and upon coming home. She was hit hard by the first treatment and was very lethargic and ill feeling upon coming home. After the Energy Work friday night there was marked improvement! Her eyes became bright and she hopped up and wanted to go outside.
I started Chelsea on an herbal suppliment to boost her immune system as well as milk thisle to support her liver as these values on her bloodwork were a little off and Co Q 10, 600mg per day to hopefully prevent heart damage. She was also started on Essiac Tea-an "anti-cancer tea" origionally used by the Ojibiwa Indians, and anti-oxidants.
As the treatments progressed Chelsea wasn't as tired after each treatment, and it didn't seem to take her as long to recover, however her platelet count was steadily dropping. It was decided the chemo would stop after 4 treatments since her platelets were dropping to lower than normal levels. Before the 4th treatment her platelets were at 179,000: 200,000-500-000 being normal. On her blood check a week after treatment they had dropped to a dangerously low 44,000. I asked the vet what could be done and the response was to wait a week and retest. Well, not one to sit idly by, I decided to chance it and do an acupressure treatment. When her blood was retested her platelet count had jumped to 203,000. The vet tech was suprised and asked, rather jokingly what I had done. Acupressure I replied, but I still don't know if I made a believer out of her!
Chelsea remained in remission and celebrated her 8th birthday with her sister and was up and around with the rest of the Clan.
UPDATE:
Chelsea had her first post chemo check-up and gets an A+. At that time, Dec. 2001, Chelsea remained cancer free. She was in excellent health. A large part of her statis must be credited to the alternative therapies and herbal treatments, including the Essiac Tea.
Admitedly, after such a glowing report I became lax and slacked off on some of her herbal support and the essiac tea. In retrospect, I wish I had not, but hind sight is 20/20. The end of Jan. she seemed tired. I nursed her at home, but after two short weeks she was gone. It was discovered that the cause of death was a rapidly growing tumor that origonated in the thoracic cavity. As it bumped into her heart and lungs it caused the tissues to necrose. Even at the end, her attitude was above and beyond, her coat glossy and not at all underweight. There had been no metastisis of the osteosarcoma to the lymph glands, lungs, or bone marrow. Why did this new cancer start? I don't know.
Her vet bills were in excess of $4500.00. A lot to spend on a dog? Perhaps, but I would do it all again to see one more tail wag, and her bright happy face. There isn't a day that goes by that I do not wish she were still here. I did manage to get her a wheelchair in Dec. which she learned to use and was becoming very proficient with. Unfortunately, we never got to go and do the therapy work I had hoped to.
I credit the herbal support and other alternative therapies for Chelsea being with me as long as she was.
If you would like more information about the alternative therapies I feel were essential to her good health, please feel free to contact me at:
Lrspots@socket.net