There was something we could do. During the first month of chemotherapy, the Hardwicks questioned their decision, but when they got into the second month of treatment, they started to see results. It was scary giving chemotherapy to him, but for us the alternative was worse. Tumors in the lung are very receptive to chemotherapy. The drugs used in this type of chemotherapy, cisplatin and doxorubicin, are well tolerated and are not debilitating to the patients.
Most dogs go through chemotherapy without adverse reactions.
Lung cancer was not Charlie's last fight however. Before Dr. Greenfield did the surgery, she showed us pictures of dogs without lower jaws. I had never heard of taking off a dog's jaw. I couldn't figure out how the dog could live. We really debated whether to do the surgery, but again the alternative would have been worse.