Buford Understands English

The Horrible Truth

I talked to my new vet about the interpretation of Buford’s most recent scan. The mass of lymph nodes or nodules. If you are looking at him sideways, the mass would rest above his (p*nis) and under his back. This cluster contains maybe 5 nodes, of which 3 are now enlarged to 4.2 cm x about 2cm.  So, the initial interpretation in January showed one node at about 3.75cm. The first node has grown from 3.75cm to 4.2cm (not a big growth in three months).  Now that may be good considering I starved his system of carbs, but not good for Buford, considering the cancer said “Screw you for starving me” and spread to two more nodes.  Imagine if they keep growing in size, he will be unable to poop or pee. So here is a pretty accurate photo of what’s going on inside him. Buford has a mass the size of a small coconut!

Buford is Not in Pain

Buford is tall and that is unusual for his breed.  He always was a bit different than other basset hounds and now I’m glad he’s as long as he is lanky tall because he obviously has spare room that this alien type mass is taking up and he doesn’t even seem to notice it.  He’s obviously not in pain but even though he sometimes strains to poop he still is pooping huge masses.

I’m scared to leave Buford alone, because at the first sign of strain or struggle or pain, I will put him down and have been considering methods of doing so. Also he has gotten used to me overcompensating since I found out the cancer has returned, and he’s spoiled now. He will act up and get to be a nervous wreck if I leave him home.

Two days ago,  I took him to my office with me.  I just had a conversation with the neighbor Dave at work, who has a house next to my office. He just put down his basset hound, Molly. She was 14 and a pretty old girl.  He was telling me, that someone could come to your home or workplace and put your dog down. He went over to his house to get the number for me in case of an emergency.

Immediately as if on queue Buford then started barking at me and ran clear across the work property like a rabid dog barking and hooting and hollaring, and ran…and ran, and ran and ran. Across three and a half acres he ran, laps.  Galloping like a baby horse,  wagging his tail, barking, jumping, playing as if to say “Oh no you don’t, look at me, look at me, I’m fine.” He ran so much I thought for sure he’d drop dead. I was exhausted just watching him.

What is sad is that Buford wants to live and has so much energy still. He maybe doesn’t know he’s sick or that this alien thing is growing inside of him. Or he knows something that I don’t.  What is he trying to tell me?

Yesterday he wanted to go for a walk. He drug my fat butt a half mile up the road and back. I had to run to keep up with him.

I just don’t understand how is he so energetic and appears so healthy when he’s technically got a baby sac of cancer inside him?  I know I should take it one day at a time but I’m puzzled.  The diagnosis doesn’t fit the way in which he’s acting.

Molasses and Baking Soda. My last hope.

Yes, I’m trying it.

 

Mushroom Caps for Dogs With Cancer Imyunity Magic Mushrooms

magic mushroom from graphicsfairy

Now, all kinds of mushrooms have been used in Asian therapy for centuries and their claims in that civilization is to have healing properties on humans. Modern Medical science here in the states has done studies and found “certain types are helpful to those with cancer”.

Particularly known to help cancer is one mushroom called Coriolus Versicolor, or the Asians call it Yunzhi. It is also sometimes referred to as the Turkey Tail mushroom however I caution against the Turkey Tail mushroom capsules if they do not specifically name the Coriolus Versicolor mushroom on the label Extracting the Polysaccharide Peptide also called PSP compounds of if has proven beneficial and recognized as a supplement to give to cancer patients.

So even though you thought mushrooms were poisonous to dogs, one company has proved to extend the life of dogs.  I had called the folks over at I’Munity to see about their mushroom caps for Buford.   They gave a grant to Penn State to do some research on the caps, and it turns out they had very good results, in fact most of the dogs lived twice as long as anticipated with the cancer.  The main wonder ingredient is Polysaccharide Peptide (PSP)  something found in mushrooms and supposed to be very beneficial in fighting cancer cells.  However, I’Munity’s proprietary blend has been given credit for being one of the best! Buford is about 63 lbs and so they said he would require 7 caps a day. A 60 day cap supply is $95.  This means every 9 days would be $95. Even getting a larger package makes the drug less expensive  for him but still very expensive if you are taking this route.

Let’s also remember they are suggesting 400 mg x 7 caps = 2800 mg of PSP so it is a lot of magic mushrooms going into my dog in order to make a a difference.

So what proof  is there on this magic mushroom ?

Wikipedia claims that PSP is a anti tumor drug.

This website shows the medical studies and results and how effective PSP was on different types of cancer. Read how PSP fought cancer cells.

Here is great information from Cancer.org.

Finding the right type of magic mushrooms: 

Most caps are low dose or contain low amounts, or percentages of PSP meaning you will need several caps a day to really make much difference. Most inexpensive brands claim they are between 100 and 300 mg capsules,  25% and 30%, but it’s the fillers that you must worry about.  I haven’t really looked at the inert ingredients but gere is a 500 mg supplier in Canada,.

Some Things You Should Know

Do your research before opting for the least expensive. You may be doing more harm than good. For instance,  this supplier, has caps which are very inexpensive, but  they also contain Magnesium Stearate which has had it’s own debate whether excess amounts of this actually cause cancer though there have been much debate on the issue but obviously California thinks so.

Also do your studying. This is an example of  the Turkey Tail Mushroom caps , as you can see a lot of filler, magnesium sterates and silica….which worries me, and doesn’t speficially say Colorius mushroom. So I would not personally buy this brand without more clarification.  If I was okay with the extra additives I may opt for this one which says Turkey Tail and has Colorius, so I would pick that out of the two choices—just be careful to get the right kind!

Then if you want the all over body booster, you can get the powders mixed in with all kinds of  ingredients like  this stuff great protein powders and gosh knows what as a dietary supplement. Of course who knows about giving all these things to a dog. He may look like Arnie Schwarzenegger  in no time and of course what worries me is the Carbs and obvious glucose…. I am supposed to keep Buford off some carbs because how they break down into glucose or sugar, which in turn feeds the cancer.

So what did I opt for ?

I went with Mushroom Science Mushroom Science, Coriolus PSP, 400 mg, 90 Vegetarian Capsules.   I got them on sale with free shipping at Super Supplements, and at their sale price it came to about  .26 a serving and even with 7 pills a day, that’s only $1.82 per day.   I also want to tell you that many things are available on Amazon and you can get free super saver shipping if you buy over a certain amount.

My search for magic mushrooms are over.

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Buford’s Health Today is good. He has visibly lost weight on this new diet and last night became very picky with his vegetables. I mixed broccoli, one carrot, kale and collard greens together and he left it.  I am going to try to make a small batch of each separately and see which one it is he does not care for. That will add a bit of prep time onto dinner but he’s worth it.

Goodbye Coral Calcium and Prayer to St. Jude

Buford’s little buddy just doesn’t understand.

You learn as you go and today I learned that the coral calcium levels I’m giving my dog may be doing more harm than good. I am giving very potent coral calcium since most things you read state good things but somehow there is a direct correlation between high calcium levels and colorectal or should I say anal cancer. I even reviewed his blood test results and prior to me giving him the calcium pills he was at a 10.5 for Calcium already (high end of the spectrum) go figure. I will be discontinuing it and looking for a soluble formula that may be safer for him.

It’s all very confusing, to know what to do, what to give, what not to give.   Aside from the fact there is no cure for cancer.

I spend my nights reading from 9pm until 3am everything, every study, ever medical journal, every herb every root every gimmick and it’s all very conflicting. Most require a strict diet combined with supplemental treatments and a mix of herbs under guidance of an advanced holistic clinic and there are none here. Dr. Wonderful must meet me at the regular vet’s vet hospital because there is no holistic vet center here.  I don’t know about taking Buford there so often as he hates it. It’s a lot to consider.

When you read things online, this one says this regimen worked for them. That one says that worked.  What works for your dog may not work for mine. What works for mine may not work for yours .  I am very limited to what I can do with Dr. Wonderful and I assume it would take a vet a million years to learn the ins and outs of holistic therapy and all the different herbs, how to combine, etc.  Hey, maybe I should become a herbalist just because.

So every night I’m beating my brains out reading all of this and racing against time that is running out. So, what’s the reality?

The reality is Buford has cancer in two lymph nodes, and the sonogram interpretation underlines the word AGGRESSIVE.  He’s already outlived his neighbors, his friends, and been battling two years.  

I do not even think he knows he is sick.

So what do you do?

Pray.

Hey, St. Jude, it’s me, if you are listening I need something more than you helping me find my keys (Did I ever say thank you for that?)……….I could really use your help on my dog. If you think Buford has unfinished business here and some life left in him,  I could sure use a miracle right now. He’s a hopeless case. But if you have a use for him in Heaven, then I must make peace with that.

Enter the waiting game.

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Buford’s Health Today ————– he’s tired and seems to be losing some weight. The kale and chicken diet may be doing that.

Instant Results With Whole Foods Diet

Buford Woo : Looking Shiny Lately

I’ve noticed some instant results with this whole foods diet. I can’t call it raw foods or completely raw because I still can’t bring myself to pull raw (or even semi raw) chicken off the bone.

He is sleeping well though the night.

First of all, he’s been sleeping through the night. This has not happened in a long time. About eight months ago, he used to get up twice in the night to drink alot of water and pee. So much so, I thought his liver or bladder had issues or even diabetes. I had him tested for everything including Cushings, but the regular vet found nothing wrong in his blood or body, so we attributed it to old age and the fact that his bladder just was getting older.  So with that said, on average, he would get up twice through the night with increased thirst and to pee prior to changing hid diet. Now that is not happening.  Now he will pee once late, about 11 pm, then sleep until 7 or 8 am.  And he’s not drinking like crazy, so technically that’s number two.

Three, his fur is so soft and shiny it isn’t funny. It has to be the proteins and vegetables, but his coat feels like a puppy again.

A glimpse at the beef entree notice the green pepper up top didn’t process and he left it anyways.

Lately I’ve been alternating with:

Rare steak, oats, fresh collard green, green peppers, celery  *If the peppers don’t process he will leave them. He will smell like celery for two days.

Chicken, fresh pureed kale, rice, broccoli  *He prefers the broccoli steamed them pureed oddly enough but the kale fresh and not steamed.

collard greens processed, you have to only add a few spoons of chicken broth or they get too runny

Now the funny thing about this is I am trying to keep the veggies raw and not cooked or steamed.   The meat is medium.  The fibers are coked. Oddly, he will eat the meat and veggies and often leave the oats or brown rice which is strange.

Currently he’s getting

1000 mg Vitamin C

1400 mg Coral Calcium  Update, I nixed this see why here. 

1000 mg Fish Oil

1 Probiotic Pill Each Day

15-20 Dr. Reckeweg’s R17 Drops sprinkled in

DO NOT DO THIS – If you put the meds in the food and he doesn’t eat it all then what? Save them for a treat after dinner.

The thing I learned is you can’t just dump this on the food. What if he doesn’t eat the food? Then you have no way of knowing what he’s ingested and not. So, I let him eat his food FIRST then mix him up a small side saucer of chicken broth and some pulled chicken. Sprinkled all those pills in there one big anabolic mess if you will and watching him suck it down in one lap always makes me smile.  We have liftoff!

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Next, I will have to figure a way to afford the Mushroom caps….

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Buford’s overall health today,  he seems to overall be feeling better , his stomach is getting used to eating so many veggies.  He’s supercharged with proteins and still wanting to go for walks. He pulled me up the street yesterday, I could not keep up with him.  He is overall determined to win the fight.  Something to be said for willpower.

Initial Improvement with Herbs and Remedies

After the remedies and herbs arrived, I began giving them to Buford in his food. The R17 drops you had to put on his tongue. My brother game me a plastic dropper but Buford found me coming at him from all angles with a big rubber dropper evasive. I had to pry open his mouth and shoot in the liquid to which he flailed and does not like this method.  I am not trying to cause him any more stress. I even asked him to open up and he walked out of the room. What is he not telling me?

In three days his poop became solid, he was not eating grass and feeling better.  It’s a real problem getting the R17 onto his tongue. I am ready for the next step and to get a little help.

I have a vet appointment with Dr. Wonderful on 2/20.  Dr . Wonderful is my new holistic vet.

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Bufords Overall Health : Stomach better but really aggravated with me.

Alternative Cancer Treatment Plan Day 1

The first thing I did was my own research. Unfortunately, one can get lost on the alternative treatments out there as so many herbs and holistic remedies and tinctures have healing properties. How many should you use and in what quantities? One could be there a lifetime trying to sort it out.  And you don’t want to spontaneously combust your dog. You really need someone who is familiar with herbs and healing properties.

It’s also very confusing. Some reports state Garlic is a natural cancer killer, other sites claim garlic is almost toxic to dogs and should be illegal…..so your head spins wondering what to do and what not to do.

Here is what I did based on my own research.   I ordered from DKO Natural the following and why:

Coral Calcium Tabs – 1000 mg  (beware of source, must get it from good coral reefs, said to aid in cancer fight) Much has been publicized about this and some studies to back it up, some studies claim it was a hoax, but again, it’s all in what you read and want to try and want to believe.  I really think source has a lot to do with everything.

Fish Oil from Norway –   The fish oil tabs I get at Sam’s Club just aren’t going to be high quality enough and I wanted an oil that I could mix into his food.  Fish oil and Flaxseed oils are great in helping “oil the system” and fight cancer.

Vitamin C Tabs : 1000 mg  (why? you can’t really overdose your dog on it, in fact anything he doesn’t breakdown will be urinated out, but even the Mayo Clinic has publicized how Vitamin C aids in killing cancer cells…truth is Cancer can’t thrive in acidic circumstances. When I think of orange juice, I think of natural fruit acids. )

Dr. Rekeweg’s R17 Tumor Drops. 

Why ? I read this article about how a vet was using them on a pit bull with bone cancer. What’s relly in them, I don’t know, but I can smell some alcohol which obviously it’s mixed with.a

All this: About a 3 month supply for $117+ $26.95 Shipped to Me (I had them priority mailed for an extra upcharge).

I then spent $30 on an amethyst necklace to put around his neck.

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Buford’s health:  Nervous.  Me: Crying every night. I’d rather not know what’s going on to be honest.

 

About My Dogs Health History and Diagnosis with Colo Rectal Cancer

When I started this blog:

Buford was four months shy of 13. To be honest, he is already living on borrowed time. For a basset hound he’s doing quite well.  He’s outlived his housemate, his siblings, and his neighbors. That is amazing on it’s own.  He looks a bit white in the face, but he runs, jumps, plays and is overall very healthy. People that don’t know how old he is guess about 8 or 9.   He doesn’t have trouble jumping up on the couch, and he takes nothing for arthritis except occasional glucosamine. I credit this to the mini doxies I have (Birdie age 5 above) and his boyfriend Weiner Schnitzel (age 5 as well.)

Buford is truly amazing.

Two weeks before Christmas in 2010, I lost my mother to colo-rectal cancer.  While still in shock, Buford was diagnosed with it also.  I looked in his face and asked my dog not to die because I really couldn’t handle anymore.   He underwent a surgery to remove the tumor and his anal glands in April 2011.

Initial diagnosis (Sonagram $440.00) , pre blood work, medicines, surgery ($1817) and follow up.   = $2800.00

He was living cancer free up until a few months ago with periodic six month sonagrams and regular old man visits.  $2000 over 18 months…

(Costs of  Sonagram $349 (recheck)and usual old man blood work $200)

His last sonogram was in August 2012 showing no regrowth. His blood tests were normal then as well, liver function, etc.   ($500.00 sonagram / recheck)

I did notice he was urinating a lot and drinking a lot. I knew he wasn’t himself.  Due to the fact these tests seemed fine, my vet tested him for Cushing’s Disease…which he did a blood panel and tested negative for.  ($400) So he was okay, right?  Maybe just old age and can’t hold his bladder. Note: He was going outside to pee, just would pee more often than usual, getting up about 2 times a night to go outside when he would normally sleep though.)

By December 2013 he was going outside three times a night.

In  January 2013 his blood tests came back perfect ($250) but the sonagram ($350) revealed the cancer had returned and was housed in two pelvic lymph nodes. I was in shock because it must have been hiding.

The lymph node which is usually 1c has grown to 3.5CM and obviously is pushing on the colon or intestine or something! This seems to be a direct link as to why he’s peeing so much.

NOW WHAT?

I’m supposed to sit and wait for my little friend to die? (I know, that’s what old dogs are supposed to do. The irony of it is, I hate cancer for taking my mom, so I’m determined to try to fight back.)

The regular vet tells me that this is a slow growing cancer and that although Buford is in overall good health not to do the chemo as that will surely kill him.  I investigated online and of course, there’s Coppers Journey. and numerous posts much like his.  I can’t put Buford though that.  To do that is to give me and him false hopes.

Chemo is the killer.

Cancer is the enemy.

I did some research. Everything I’ve read on line correlates lymph node cancer to lymphoma. The vet is not calling it that. Why not? I don’t know.  I personally don’t consider it slow growing if it’s went from 1 cm to 3.5 cm in a few months, do you?  Problem is, if you remove those nodes, the cancer quite possibly will spread elsewhere, to another place, more deadly.

I’m not in denial. My dog has cancer in his nodes and it’s only a matter of time before it spreads and this will kill him.

If I let it.

Damn you cancer. You must stop taking everyone I love. (grandfather, grandmother, mother, and now my dog? )

I think long and hard as to what my goal is and if I can realistically do it:

1. Make him as comfortable as possible.   YES I CAN!

2. Boost his system so when he does go, it’s not so hard on him. YES I CAN!

2. Don’t let the cancer kick his ass.   STEP BACK CANCER, YOU MUST STOP TAKING EVERYONE I LOVE.

That’s it. Very simple. To do this, I need some help…….

I read until my eyes hurt.

============Buford’s overall health is  now : shaky. He senses I’m a nervous wreck. He’s out eating grass and hasn’t had a solid bowel movement in two days. Hubby thinks he’s sick.  I am not just going to sit here. Time to move….