Tripawds Three Legged Dog & Cat Forum Archives

 Hi all! First and foremost, this blog has been so helpful during this entire process so thank you everyone! I need help deciding whether or not radiation will be worth it in Roscoe's case or is it just overkill with dangerous side effects?

Roscoe had an amputation for his soft tissue sarcoma (STS) and it went great! It was a rather large tumor, Grade 2 (not the worst, not the best). Basically, the majority of the margins were clean! Except one part received a 'clean but close' margin of .2 cm (2 mm) from the margin line (not from the tumor), keeping in mind, margins shrink at the pathologist. Most of the literature says that clean but close margins are considered 1mm from the margin...some says closer to 3 mm from the margin. So Roscoe falls right on the cusp if I understand correctly?

Option 1: Radiation 

- Expensive (over $6,000), 18 days of anesthesia (can be dangerous in itself) and radiation, possible side effects from radiation (which are more likely to be seen in a young dog like my Roscoe, who is only 3.5 years!) Also, I think the whole process would stress Roscoe out, he's an emotional fella!

-PRO: Most of the literature says that STS, treated surgically and followed with radiation have a 75% success rate and 5+ year survival rate. 

Option 2: Wait and See plus a Homeopathic Approach

- From the research articles I have read, the chance of a Grade 2 STS returning with unclean margins hovers around 34%, with clean but close, slightly less! So, technically it's giving us the same chance as radiation- around a 75% chance it will not come back PLUS no risk of side effects from radiation. STS also have fairly low metastatic rates (17%) 

- The con is that if it does come back, it will be slightly harder to treat then the first time, definitely would require another surgery and radiation. It's really a coin toss. 

My personal vet, who always leans toward a homeopathic approach, says that most of the time, surgery is curative for STS, regardless of margins. I went a lot deeper and read all of the research articles listed in the Dog Cancer Survival Guide and the oncologist obviously recommends radiation as the "safest" course of action (I take that with a grain of salt). I have him on Apocaps , 50% Origen dog food and 50% Dog Cancer Diet. I also have an appointment with an Eastern Medicine doctor. 

I'm having a hard time understanding the difference between his 70% chance of it not coming back and the radiation giving him a 70% chance 5+ year survival rate? Also, 18 days of anesthesia and radiation kind of seems dangerous, with other bad side effects including a radiation-related tumor, and stressful? I want to do what's best for Roscoe no matter what! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! Also, any alternative treatments?? I would be very interested in that as well!

Thank you so much!

Kristin & Roscoe & Family

Kristin & Roscoe & Family