The Dog Cancer Survival Guide (79 page)

In this step (
Chapter 11
) we target cancer directly by using the conventional tools: surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Many guardians use these to target cancer cells, and you may have already started doing so by the time you read this. If needed, review what you have learned from your vet and consult Dr. Ettinger’s section and
Chapter 11
. Then, record all of the conventional treatments you are currently using or considering. Add as many details as you know at this time, including the following:

• Specific surgeries, including expected recovery time and any post-operative care that may be needed.
  How many office visits will there be? Include what outcomes are expected from the treatment. Is this outcome desirable? How much it will likely cost, and what follow up care is needed? Also, make a note of possible side effects.
  
• Specific chemotherapy protocols or drugs.
  Which drugs are involved? How many treatments are needed? When? How many office visits will there be? Include what outcomes are expected from the treatment. Is this outcome desirable? How much it will likely cost, and what follow up care is needed?
  
• Radiation treatments.
  How many treatments are recommended and how often? How many office visits will there be? Include what outcomes are expected from the treatment. Is this outcome desirable? How much it will likely cost, and what follow up care is needed?
  
• Also record any other conventional medications your dog takes, and any other health issues, which need to be taken into consideration.
  

If you choose not to use a recommended treatment, it’s worth making a note about why. Later, if your vet or oncologist questions your decision, you will be able to explain your choice. This will also give him a chance to address your specific concerns and suggest alternatives, if appropriate.

In this step (
Chapter 12
), we target cancer cells using plant-based nutraceuticals that may help induce apoptosis and (in the case of Apocaps) may increase life quality. Review
Chapter 12
, if necessary, and record each of the nutraceuticals you are using or considering using, including:

• Apocaps.
  Does your dog have health issues that preclude Apocaps use? Is she on medications, which should be reduced or avoided when using Apocaps? If you are considering chemotherapy and radiation treatments, do you want to try using Apocaps as a chemo- or radiosensitizer? Include the outcomes you expect, the likely cost, and possible side effects.
  
• Artemisinin.
  Does your dog have health issues that preclude artemisinin use? Is she on medications, which should be reduced or avoided when using artemisinin? If you are considering chemotherapy treatments, are the protocols compatible with artemisinin? Remember, if you are contemplating radiation treatments, artemisinin cannot be used during treatments or the two months following. What outcomes do you expect? What is the likely cost? What are the possible side effects?
  
• Neoplasene.
  Does your dog have health issues that preclude Neoplasene use? Is she on medications, which should be reduced or avoided when using Neoplasene? You will need to rely on your vet for application and pain management. How many office visits will this take? Is the tumor in question on the surface, or could it have invaded deeper structures like the bones, which might require emergency medical care to repair after the tumor sloughs off? Include your expected outcomes, how much it will likely cost and the possible side effects.
  

Some guardians believe that killing cancer cells directly is a lower priority than boosting the immune system. They hope that if they can stimulate the immune system enough, it will be sufficient to naturally kill the cancer, eventually.

While I agree that boosting the immune system is very important, and that the immune system can kill cancers when it is working effectively, dogs with cancer have likely already suffered severe immune repression. If their immune systems were able to kill the cancer, they would have already done so.

Boosting immune system activity without also killing cancer cells is a dodgy and unreliable strategy, especially with aggressive cancers. No matter what stage your dog’s cancer is in, you can take steps to kill it, and I suggest you do.

After targeting cancer cells, your next priority is to strategically boost your dog’s immune system, which is likely suppressed, and possibly deranged, by the presence of cancer. Strengthening the immune system can reduce the risk of secondary illnesses and infections and, because the immune system has natural cancer-fighting mechanisms, re-establishing its vitality could enable it to start helping to fight the cancer.

Review
Chapter 13
and make a list of the strategies you are considering. There are two free strategies that I recommend for nearly every dog:

• High quality sleep: nine hours in total darkness.
  
• Some sunlight every day, if you can, unless your dog has squamous cell carcinoma or hemangiosarcoma of the skin.
  

Many guardians have asked me to prioritize the supplements in
Chapter 13
in order of their importance, which is done below. You can also see a full listing in
Appendix A
.

1. Beta-Glucans:
   This is the most important immune-boosting supplement. If you give the supplement called Transfer Factor at the same time, it may enhance the activity of the betaglucans (Apocaps has some beta-glucans in it, but not as much as what’s in K-9 Immunity or many other medicinal mushroom supplements).
   
2. Modified citrus pectin
   
3. Doxycycline
   
4. Multivitamins:
   Dietary, supplemental doses of multivitamins (not mega-doses). The one possible exception to this is Vitamin C; check with your vet for his preference. Also, if you are feeding a home-cooked diet, I do recommend including a general multivitamin.
   

Remember to review all of these strategies and supplements for negative interactions with other treatments you are considering, and include those concerns in your journal. Also include how much each will cost, and any possible side effects.

Improving your dog’s diet is a very important step in Full Spectrum cancer care. The foods included in the diet (outlined in
Chapter 14
) may help fight cancer, boost the immune system, or both. Cutting out or reducing processed commercial foods that may contain carcinogens is a relatively easy way to reduce your dog’s exposure, and it also may reduce omega-6 fatty acid levels in your dog’s diet. Review
Chapter 14
and make notes about dietary changes you are considering, including:

• Home-cooking your dog’s food, or at least part of it, using high-quality protein, brightly colored low-carbohydrate vegetables, dark green low-carbohydrate vegetables, whole grains, berries, garlic and other potent foods.
  
• Adding omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA and EPA. The best oils to use are krill and fish oil.
  
• Adding dietary enzymes to break down your dog’s food before he eats it.
  

Refer back to
Chapter 14
to refresh your memory about these supplements and the dog cancer diet. If your dog has a condition that precludes using this diet or any part of it, be sure to note that in your journal. Don’t forget to figure out the likely cost of the ingredients, and the time it will take to cook meals every two to four days.

Take a moment to review
Chapters 15
,
17
and
18
and make a list of the treatments and activities you want to include in your cancer treatment plan:

• Exercise
  
• Play Dates
  
• Light Training
  
• Manageable Challenges
  
• Joys of Life
  
• Meditation
  
• Visualization Exercises
  
• Intercessory Prayer
  
• Massage or Touch Therapies
  
• Pain Management (if necessary, see
  Chapter 17
  )
  

Many of these are free; all take some time to implement. Make sure you note what these strategies are likely to cost, and how much time is needed for each.

If you are considering any treatments not covered in this book, remember to note them in your journal. Include their cost, any possible side effects or conflicts with other treatments. Treatments from Ayurvedic medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and homeopathic treatments are better handled by practitioners, skilled in those modalities.

There are many unconventional treatments and supplements purported to help cancer – shark cartilage, Essiac tea, astralagus, and many more – that are specifically not included in this book. This is not an accident. The reasons I excluded them can vary; they may be ineffective, not safe, or impractical to give to dogs, or, in a few cases, they are promising but not yet proven to my satisfaction. If you are curious about which supplements have been excluded and why, check
Appendix B
(which starts on
page 415
), where I list the most common ones.

If you have worked through my system, by this point you will have a fairly solid understanding of the seriousness of your dog’s cancer, your own Mission Statement, your financial resources and time commitment and which treatments you would like to try. Review your treatment list and your Mission Statement. Does each treatment support your mission? Put a mark next to the ones which are most important to you or which seem to hold the most promise for helping your dog.

Plan on sharing your ideas with your vet or oncologist. You probably already have some questions for her, and I have more listed in
Chapter 22
. She may be able to help you identify potential problems with your plan, complications you haven’t considered and new treatment options.

Additionally, keep in mind that you will likely tweak this plan as you continue treating your dog’s cancer. If your dog doesn’t react well to a medication, treatment or supplement, a flexible mindset will help you to adjust smoothly.

Keep your notes from this exercise, because they form the basis of a very important document: your dog cancer journal. Journaling about your dog’s progress will help you to make decisions tomorrow, next week, next month and next year. We’ll talk more about journaling in
Chapter 23
.

Take a moment now to look back over the work you just did. Be proud of yourself for taking the time to help your dog. If you feel clear and confident about your plan, that’s terrific. If you feel even the slightest hint of doubt or indecision, read the sidebar about how to end “analysis paralysis.” The simple exercise outlined there will help you to get clarity and modify your plan, if needed.