I am so very sorry to hear about Daisy. I will keep all fingers and paws crossed and keep her and the family in my prayers.
Here are some facts about lymphoma.
Like Ice said, it is very important to act fast. lymphoma is a cancer in the lymph vessels and nodes and since that is a part of the immune system it tends to be very fast progressing.
I totally hate to type this, but the they have done studies that show that if lymphoma is untreated the average life expectancy is about 2 months from the time of diagnosis.
BUT there are treatments chemotherapy is the most used on and have a good prognosis. They have done studies about why dogs get lymphoma but as of yet they really dont know and I wont be typing a horrid long post about what they think it might come from.
Daisy has had a biopsy, there are other tests that the oncologist might do. Bone marrow aspirate and/or a spleen or liver aspirate. They use these tests to stage the disease. Lymphoma is classified by stage.
Stage 1. only one lymph node involved
stage 2. several lymph nodes in the same general area involved
stage 3. all peripheral lymph nodes involved
stage 4. all peripheral lymph nodes, plus spleen, liver and/or problem in the chest
stage 5. everything in stage 4 plus bone marrow
they have today pretty much come to the conclusion that chemotherapy is all the first 4 stages are responding equally well. Exception is stage 5, that stage tends to have a poor respons to chemotherapy.
Lymphoma is a rapidly growing malignancy that can grow anywhere, where there is lymph tussue. That is more or less every organ in the body.
chemotherapy in dogs are not as bad as it is in people. Most dogs do not experience nausea or infections, they could but most likely not. whiskers are usually lost, loosing the fur is not a common problem in dogs.
I read a study some time ago that stated that there is about 75% chance of achieving remission regarless or what chemotherapy protocol had been used.
Sooooooo even though it looks bad for dogs that do not get any treatment, the prognosis for dogs that do get chemotherapy isnt all that bad.
I could go on about different chemotherapy protocols they use, and what the difference seem to be in how long it takes before the tumor becomes resistant. But this is already a way too long and sad post.
If there is anything at all you wonder over, just ask. I might not at all be able to answer it, but maybe someone here will
Again I will keep sweet Daisy in my prayers and stay strong.
Kisses
Marit
