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Carboplatin Delivery in Jugular Vein
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Member Since:
25 June 2016
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23 August 2016 - 7:08 pm
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Our dog Samantha had her first treatment of Carboplatin in her left leg. That was 3 weeks ago and her blood count has been taken weekly and has been perfect.
Today she had to have her injection in her Jugular vein because the vet couldn't find a vein in her leg. (They tried twice, but couldn't get it.)

She is really run down today, unlike her first injection which was in her (front) leg.

Has anybody had experience with the Carboplatin being administered in the Jugular - and should we be worried - as this seems like it would be more aggressive than having it injected in the leg.

Thanks for any advice or reassurance if we are just worrying too much. This is only her second treatment, and we didn't notice any difference in her behavior or her cbcs after the first treatment.

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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23 August 2016 - 8:52 pm
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Was the Carboplatin done by an Onco? Not your regular vet, right'

I know someone needs to be present the whole time the IV is given a technician is there ro make sure no e of the dose seeps out of the IV catheter. Giving in the jugular would require the same attention. I think it "generally" takes approximately 15 minutes when given in the leg. Obviously, this can vary on an individual basis.

I don't have any specific insight and I'm hoping others will chime in who do. I do know some dogs are pretty tired the day of the treatment. It is cumulative so effects may show up a bit more with each treatment.

If you have ANY concerns, do not hesitate to call your vet, or the Onco, or a 24 hr service!! You are paying big bucks and you deserve to be reassured! You are the best advocate Samantha has!!!

How is she feeling tonight? Eating? Has she perked up at all.

Gon a keep checking back in on sweet Samantha! I just love her avatar picture!

Lots of hugs!

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

PS. Did they mention why they were having such a hard time with her veins in the first place?

Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!

Member Since:
14 February 2016
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24 August 2016 - 3:47 am
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Otis always had his in his leg, but he slept the entire day of chemo each session.  It really seemed to wipe him out.  

Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016.  Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016.  Lung mets August 25, 2016.  Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016.   Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.  

Wherever they are, they are together.

Los Angeles, CA
Member Since:
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24 August 2016 - 10:09 am
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I am pretty sure we always had carbo in the leg too but Shelby did seem to be a bit more sleepy as the treatments went on... the first couple of days were definitely more lethargic. But like Sally said - call your vet if you at all feel concerned. We aren't vets here but we have lots of experience. Tired does seem normal to me!

Hugs!

alison with spirit shelby in her heart (and little jasper too)

Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.

October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014

Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife



Member Since:
21 May 2016
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24 August 2016 - 1:30 pm
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Eurydice has her chemo administered in her jugular and had 5 sessions of carboplatin to date with zero side effects.

Thing is she has something called a port inserted inside her neck (sorry, can't remember exact name) it was placed there during her amputation surgery.

A special needle is required but the process is extremely safe and as I understand it it is used so the leg veins are not massacred.

I believe it is not a very complicated surgery to get it in but am not absolutely sure of this.

In any case, what I can say is we experienced no trouble at all using the jugular to administer chemo.

Sending you big hug and cuddles to your fluffy heart

Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-) 

Virginia







Member Since:
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24 August 2016 - 3:01 pm
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Good to know the details of how it's delivered for Eurydice. Thanks for the info!

How is Samantha today? Curious about the port. Did Samantha have one since it looks like this will be the way her chemo will be injected in the future?

Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!



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24 August 2016 - 4:52 pm
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Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-) 



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24 August 2016 - 4:57 pm
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Gosh I am surprised with my newly developed computer skills (if I may say so myself)

This is what it looks like and it seems it can be done under local anestesia.

A special needle is inserted in the coin shaped area and they can get blood samples and do chemo painlessly and no stress on any of the legs veins.

Hugs and cuddles xxx

Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-) 

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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24 August 2016 - 5:35 pm
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Fascinating! Really makes sense. Anything to limit the number of needles a dog has to endure is good!

And your computer skills are light years ahead of mine!

Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!

Livermore, CA




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24 August 2016 - 8:40 pm
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Ports are often put in human chemo patients, I think they are also called pick lines.  There is another thing called a mid-line which is put in the arm and also used to administer meds. Both are used when multiple doses over a long period of time are prescribed, it saves multiple needle sticks and the veins.

I don't think I've heard of a port in a dog before- Eurydice's vet must be on the cutting edge of vet medicine!

Karen

Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.

1999 to 2010

 

              Maggie's Story                  Amputation and Chemo

Michigan
Member Since:
2 April 2013
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24 August 2016 - 9:06 pm
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The jugular vein is a larger vein than the one in the leg.  It is closer to the heart, but that shouldn't make a difference in how the chemo affects Samantha.  It's very important for the medication to stay in the vein & not leak into the surrounding tissue.  Dr. Sue has posted on Facebook a couple of times her techs administering chemo, and they are very careful.  I think sometimes that the more doses they get, the more they react, and you can always talk to your oncologist about how she's reacting if it seems too severe.  Luckily, Samantha must have been nice & relaxed and calm for them to be able to use her jugular. 

Murphy's chemo was a pill, but with only one front leg, I always worried about that vein because they used it over & over again for all of his blood draws.

Donna

Donna, Glenn & Murphy 

Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17  
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs

Donna.png

Member Since:
25 June 2016
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25 August 2016 - 5:45 pm
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Thanks for all the replies!

Samantha is doing ok now, three days after her second dose. Her first dose was in her leg, but the doctor couldn't find the vein in her leg this time, so she ended up with two big holes on her leg, which are healing fine.

She still seems a bit "doped up" and isn't as happy as she was after the first dose she received in her leg.
Her eyes are a bit watery, and she wants to lay down more than normal.

Samantha is calm with the doctor - they have been taking the CBCs from her Jugular.

Thanks midnighter94

It's very important for the medication to stay in the vein & not leak into the surrounding tissue.

Not sure why they can't find a vein in her leg. Our vet is new at this, so any ideas from vets out there would be appreciated.

All in all, Samantha is still hopping around and chasing our food (like begging - but she is an only child and her mom spoils her).
I guess the second dose of Carboplatin may have effected her more than the first, regardless of the delivery site?

Thank you all for the support and we will update on Samantha soon.

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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26 August 2016 - 9:47 am
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When you said the vet is "new at this"...is it a regular vet or an Onco administering the chemo. It's not always an option due to logistics, etc, but it's always best to jave it administered by a trained Onco team.

I knkw from your ither post you'll be taking her in around the seven day mark for bloodwork if she's not better. That's a good idea in case she does need antibiotics.

Would love to see more photos when you get time!

Hugs!

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!

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