[Gpdd] Health

[Alice Dawson]

I have a middle-aged to older female gp (we adopted her from a rescue 
group about 4 years ago so have no idea as to her actual age) who 
developed a very large mass on one of her shoulders over the last week 
or two.  I am waiting for results of a biopsy before we know how to 
proceed.  The vet indicated if the the tumor is malignant and has not 
spread, surgery (and perhaps radiation) is a treatment option.  She said 
that to be sure all of the cancerous cells are removed would require 
amputation of the leg.  I'm fine with 3 legs or 5 legs!  However, my 
concern is for what's right for her and my experience is that surgery is 
very hard on gps and a leg amputation seems huge to me.  If anyone else 
has had any experience with this, I would very much value your thoughts 
on this.  Many thanks in advance.

ad
-- 
Alice Dawson, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
Academic Advising Programs
College of Arts and Sciences and the General College
University of North Carolina at Chapel
NEW LOCATION:  38 Phillips Hall (in the basement)
CB# 3110
Chapel Hill NC 27599-3110

e-mail:  adawson at email.unc.edu
phone:  919/843-7727     fax:  919/962-6888
Advising web site:  http://www.unc.edu/advising/
To schedule an appointment, click on this link:
http://advising.unc.edu/scheduleanappt