Well, tomorrow my boy starts his first round of chemo.  A little two months ago Princeton had a bad limp and a swollen leg.  I took him to the vet the same night, and the x-rays showed a definite inflammation and a very slight shadow on the bone.  The vet that looked at him wasn't his regular, and sent him home with some medication.  This was the very first time I ever heard of bone cancer in a dog, but it couldn't be determined if Princeton was indeed suffering from osteosarcoma.  

When my regular vet arrived back to the clinic a week later, Princeton had his chest x-rayed and blood taken.  The chest was clear and the blood results good.  Princeton's an older boy, almost twelve, but his blood work actually demonstrated much younger.  He is actually in tremendous health for his age.  Anyway it was determined that a wait and see approach was best, with another x-ray to be done a month later.

A month passed and Princeton had another x-ray which demonstrated additional growth of only a millimeter.  He had, however, developed an off and on limp.  My vet decided that a biopsy should be done to make sure it wasn't anything serious.  The biopsy was performed with excellent sample obtained.  The results came back negative.  Puzzled, my vet consulted with oncologists to seek other opinions.  Some recommended amputation, while others suggested a tissue and bone scraping.  It was decided that the latter would be prudent.  While obtaining the samples, my vet noted that the biopsy sample sites were almost entire healed.  He also noted the growth on the bone still didn't display the typical osteosarcoma growth.  The bone actually looked good except for the growth on the surface.  The samples were submitted for infection, which came back negative.  It was decided that an x-ray would be performed in a few weeks time.

A few days before the scheduled x-ray, Princeton developed a bad limp and his leg was warm.  He went to the vet the next day and was x-rayed.  The growth this time was much bigger.  My vet recommended the leg to be removed.  Although the x-ray still didn't display the typical osteosarcoma and all submitted samples negative he thought it best to be proactive.  A chest x-ray was also performed, and after careful inspection by the vet, determined to be clear.  Princeton's leg was removed the next day with the leg and a lymph node being submitted.  It was tough on him, but a week later he was actually running around the farm.

Absolutely surprisingly, the leg sample came back as osteosarcoma.  I actually saw the cross section, and the all additional growth was on the outside.  No destruction on the inside.  The lymph node came back cancer free.

So, thirteen days after the amputation, Princeton starts the first round of carboplatin tomorrow.  I'm optimistic, as both the chest x-ray and lymph node was clear.  Hopefully the chemo will take care of the microscopic stuff, and additional holistic treatments between chemo will help as well.  And of course, the cancer isn't a match for Princeton's resolve.

Anyway, that's Princeton's story.  All the stories on the site have given us hope, and made us realize we are not alone.

Thanks everyone,

Terry

Welcome Terry & Princeton! It sounds as though Princeton is doing great after his amputation. I hope he continues to do well with the chemo statrting tomorrow. Please keep us posted, and maybe share a picture of him???

Cathy

Welcome, Terry and Princeton! As Jackie said, sorry you're here but happy you found us. What kind of dog is Princeton?

Good luck with the chemo. We did not do chemo, as Dakota had a soft-tissue sarcoma and clear x-rays and lymph node. The dogs here who've needed chemo seem to do really well. Some of them, like Abby, have had some mild issues with tummy troubles or energy, but I've not read anything like the human horror stories of chemo. Being a dog seems to be wonderful on many levels!

And indeed, you'll need to post pictures. We love to see all the furry babies and the other critters they live with.

Shari

Welcome Terry and Princeton! Sounds like he is doing really well :)

Our lylee Girl is currently doing 6 rounds of Carboplatin and has already had 3 treatments and she has tolerated them very well, just a bit of fatigue and slightly off her food for a few days after each dose (every three weeks). Hopefully Princeton will be just fine!

Would love to see some photos!

Huggs

Lylee and her Mum

Welcome Terry and Princeton! Glad to hear Princeton is back home from his 1st chemo and doing well. We cant offer any advice on chemo but lots of folks here will post Im sure.

Julie and Daisy

Thanks everyone

This is a picture of Princeton taken a couple weeks before his amputation.  He generally doesn't look so stoic, but he probably wondered what I was doing.  He needs to lose a little weight, especially now.

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Terry

Princeton is a doll! He's very lucky to have such great pawrents to take care of him. Give him lots of love!!