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carboplatin/doxorubicin combo protocol: our story
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Member Since:
23 November 2017
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24 November 2017 - 10:05 am
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Hello everyone, I am new to the site and my boy Snoopy and I are new to this journey. I would like to share our story and would like any advice, tips, etc. I believe knowledge is power. I have and continue daily to be researching all that I can.                                                                     -   October 14 2017, we were outside playing. Snoopy jumped up in the air and came down with a limp. I thought nothing of it really just a sprain maybe. He will get better just give it time. This was not the case. He wasn’t getting better. His limp continued and got worse. Although he still remained his happy self, eating, drinking etc, the limp started worrying me (could it be broken?).                                                                    -   October 27, our lives changed. We did X-rays of his leg which showed growth in his front distal radius. That day the doctor said it could be osteosarcoma, yet he was not positive so he suggested sending the X-rays to a specialist to determine. The report came back on October 30, 85% chance osteosarcoma but need to do chest X-rays. That day Snoopy had chest X-rays and blood work. He thought he could see some nodules in the chest X-rays. This doctor said he probably had three months to live. I asked to see a specialist.                                                                     -   October 31, we seen the specialist, he wasn’t positive it was osteosarcoma. The lytic lesion in Snoopys leg was not typically what they see and he could NOT see anything in the chest X-rays. He suggested a bone biopsy. Later that same day the biopsy was done.                               -   November 3, the histology report came back. Confirming osteosarcoma. Snoopys mitotic count was 13 per 10 400 X. The specialist suggested amputation and chemotherapy.  This doctor gave him a bit more time, one year (although all cases are individual, he stated the median survival).                                                      I was devastated. Snoopy is the light of my life, I have dedicated my heart and soul to him and could never imagine him not with me.                         -   November 8, surgery day. I stayed there until he was out of surgery. The doctor said he did well but I could not see him and I could come back later.  Although he would need to stay overnight. I brought him dinner, he ate, and we went outside and back in to cuddle until they wanted him to go back to be on IV fluids. He was doing amazing, everyone was shocked how well he was doing so fast. He is such a strong boy.                                                                                     -   November 9 AM I picked him up and we came home. They said Snoopy would be able to start chemo therapy once the stitches were removed.       -   November 17, the histology report for his limb came back with a mitotic count 26 per 10 400 X. -   November 21, we met with a internal medicine specialist. Snoopys ALP levels are perfect which we says is a indicator of stage in the cancer, he could not see metastatis in the lungs and the fact that Snoopy has no other health issues and has been doing awesome at home is all positive. Yet he is extremely concerned that his mitotic count has doubled in two weeks, which he says is a indicator of how aggressive the cancer is. He removed stitches. We discussed all the options and determined a plan for Snoopy. This specialist has increased survival median to 500 days with our protocol.        He suggested carboplatin and doxorubicin combination. Five rounds of each, rotating, three weeks apart. Throughout that blood work and chest X-rays. The specialist said carboplatin is hard on the liver (monitor with blood work) and doxorubicin is hard on the heart. Also Snoopy is a large mixed breed. Doctor said certain breeds have complications with their hearts (a mutation in there DNA) so for safety reasons we have sent in blood work to screen for the MDR1 mutation. If Snoopy did have this than Doxorubicin is 100% off the table as it could cause death and the discussed protocol will be changed to Carboplatin only with five rounds, three weeks apart.                     -   So currently we are waiting for those results. Snoopy had his first Carboplatin treatment on November 21, the same day we met with internal medicine. He has been doing amazing with no side effects so far.   I have many questions but my main focus at this time is to hear stories of others if they’ve been in similar situation with the chemo protocol of carboplatin/doxorubicin combo. Have you seen longer survival times? If your loved one is currently on this protocol than how are they doing? Have you seen side effects? Do you find one or the other is harder on them? What are their ALP levels and mitotic counts? Do you know if there’s other protocols to add, Immunotherapy treatments? Etc.                                                                Snoopy has been so strong and brave on this journey and I’m so thankful he is doing so well. He and I are not willing to give up. I want to make sure I’m doing everything I can for him to have to best chance of survival.                                   If you’ve continued reading this long, thank you! I’m new here so I’m not sure exactly how this all works or if I’m posting properly. So apologies. Have a great day and best wishes to all the loved ones in battle. I hope to hear from you soon. 

On The Road


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24 November 2017 - 2:48 pm
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Welcome and best wishes for Snoopy! Thank you for sharing his story with such detail. Please keep us posted, your future forum posts will not require moderation.

Start here for help finding the many Tripawds Resources. Most common concerns have been addressed in Jerry's Required Reading List .

While you wait for comments from others, use the Advanced Search above to refine your forum search results with specific phrases, and you're sure to find lots of helpful feedback. You can also search all blogs here . Or, consider downloading the Tripawds e-books for fast answers to common concerns and feel free to call the toll-free Tripawds Helpline anytime!

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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24 November 2017 - 3:10 pm
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Welcome Snoopy and family!

I cannot help you with the questions that you ask but be patient, all the puppy people should be along soon to hopefully help answer some of your questions. Do you have any pictures of your boy? It sounds like you are well on top of things and have done your homework! Sounds like Snoopy is a lucky puppy to have such a wonderful family. Good luck to you on this journey, you are doing all the right things smiley

Jackie, David, and Huckleberry

Hugs,

Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry

Huckleberry's Blog

Member Since:
18 September 2017
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24 November 2017 - 5:09 pm
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Can't really help with the chemo question but I am happy to hear that your boy is handling the amputation well.  I hope the chemo beats the cancer into remission. 

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24 November 2017 - 5:31 pm
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Thank you all so much for his well wishes, I greatly appreciate it! He actually was diagnosed exactly one month before his ninth birthday. Which is coming up at the end of this month. He will always be my baby 💛 I’m D by the way and I do have photos, many. I’m pretty crazy with taking photos of them. I only have so long to capture those memories, which I cherish so deeply. But I can’t figure out how to get them up (sigh). I hope to get more familiar with tripawds and be able to help and contribute along the way. 

Member Since:
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24 November 2017 - 6:49 pm
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http://tripawds.....-photos-1/

Here is a link to the technical forums.  I am not nearly as good at this as jerry is.  If my link doesn't work,  go to the top of this page and select forums.  Scroll down to technical support.  Just about everything you need to know and post photos,  videos is there with step by step instructions.  You can ask questions there if you're stuck.  I hope this helps. There will be people checking new posts and they will be hoppy you help as well! 

Jackie

Hugs,

Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry

Huckleberry's Blog

Member Since:
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24 November 2017 - 7:40 pm
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Awwww....I see a picture! It's a profile picture but he is beautiful! Did the link I sent help?

Hugs,

Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry

Huckleberry's Blog

Member Since:
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24 November 2017 - 8:33 pm
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Thank you so much 😊 He is very lovely. Thanks for the link I appreciate it.  I’m not very computer savvy. I figured out the profile picture just fiddling around. But I’m thinking that’s easier than posting pictures. Still doesn’t compute... lol

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24 November 2017 - 8:56 pm
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 Once you set up a blog you will have a gallery to put your photos on. Your photos have to be uploaded online somewhere to be posted here. The blog account helps you there.  You don't habe to make a blog,  just set up the account first.  Videos can be uploaded to you tube then you can copy and paste the link here. It takes a little doing,  just a learning curve.  I'm glad you got your profile pic,  he's very handsome! 

Hugs,

Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry

Huckleberry's Blog

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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24 November 2017 - 9:34 pm
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SNOOPY IS A VERY HANDSOME FELLA!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂   And HAPPY NINTH BIRTHDAY (a few days early) 🙂 🙂

Clearly your bond with Snoopy is unbreakable and it is clear how much you love him, and he loves you!heart

My Happy Hannah had osteosarcoma and her protocol was four rounds of Carboplatin.  I don't have any specific insight into the suggested protocol Snoops is considering.  Perhaps others will chime in with more firsthand knowledge.   I think you are right about the possible side effects of Doxy though. 

My Happy Hannah sailed through her rounds of Carboplatin with zero side effects.  Some experience a little nausea for a day or so, and maybe some lethargy for a couple of days.   The Vet will give you CERENIA to help if any nausea shows up.   Side effects, if any are generally mild.  In rare cases where they .ay be hard on the dog, you can always stop and they rerurn to normal lretty quickly.

THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON ON THIS CRAZY JOURNEY IS TO Be More Dog !  BE MORE SNOOPY! 🙂   Snoopy doesn't count days on a calendar and he certainly does NOT have a timeframe stamped amywhere on his cute butt!!  Snoops lives kn the mlment...in the now...in the prese t!  A diagnosis doesn't mean squat to him!  All he cares about is being by your side pain free! 

You are doing everything possible for Snoopy and he knows it!!  Make everyday Snoopy Day and don't waste one secor about worrying about your tomorrows!  He sure isn't! 🙂

Here's another link that may help for. adding images

Lots of 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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25 November 2017 - 10:38 am
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Thanks for the birthday wishes!!! It’s appreciated 😊                                                                            So far he’s doing great! He’s so brave. My hope is that we’ve been able to catch it before it starts spreading.                                                              Did anyone notice symptoms of it spreading?     Were X-rays the only way to confirm if it spread? From time diagnosed, how long was it before it was confirmed metastasis?                                         Was your love able to outlive the survival median with treatment?                                                   Were you given the options of Carboplatin, Doxorubicin, or combination?                                Has anyone heard of the chemo treatment combination? Seems not as common.                   And yes I love him more than life itself, if it was possible I’d switch places in a second.             

Virginia







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25 November 2017 - 11:19 am
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Okay, we need some DEEP BREATHS right about now okay? Will you donthem with me?  Really, will you?  I'm gonna take thst as a YES, so here we go!

 B R E A T H E......B R E A T H E.... INHALE SLOWLY...EXHALE SLOWLY....INHALE........EXHALE.......INHALE SLOOOOWLY...EXHALE SLOOOWLY!

GOOD JOB!!

 This initial part of the journey is soooo stressful, so exhausting emotionally and physically.   You are seeking answers we all sought at firsr.  And then we learned EVERY DOG IS DIFFERENT.   EVERY EXPERIENCE IS DIFFERENT.    None of us have cyrstal balls and none ofniur dogs have timeframes stamped anywhere on there butts!

Statistics do NOT take in the makeup of each individual dog....their genetics...their attitude...their environment...their nutrition...their history...and on and on.

I can answer a couple of questions generally, not always, IF Osteo does spread, it goes to the lunds. And generally, xrays can confirm that.  Snoopy has clear xrays, so YAY for that!!

IF lungs mets do show up (IF), generally, but not always, dogs tire more easily (vut being a tripawd for months or years can make them tiire more easily!).  Some dogs start panting (not talking recovery/pain panting) and maybe coughing.  I even hate to bring thisnup because again, every dog is different andevery "sympton" can be different.

It was thought that my Happy Hannah had lymph node involvement as well.  The Vet gloomly said that "changed the prognosis".  Happy Hannah and I had a GLORIOUS extened bonus time of over one year and two months!!   In human  years, that's over SEVEN YEARS!

Stubborn Pug Maggie was given a statistic"'of six to nine mo ths.  She didn't listen!  She had an additional bonus time of FOUR YEARS (28' human years)!

Founder Jerry got TWO YEARS of extended bonus time!

Queen  Nova, a Senior Great Dane, Ibelieve it was five years!

Some had chemo, some did not.  It really is somewhat of a crap shoot when it comes to chemo.

More examples coming, just wanted to throw out a few.

IT REALLY IS ABPUT MAKING EVERY MOMENT COUNT AND NOT WASTING TIME WORRYING ABOUT TOMORROWS!!   BE MORE SNOOPY AND LIVE IN THE MOMENT!!

You're doiing a great job of caring for Snoopy!  

ONE MORE TIME.....B R E A T H E......:-)

Love and 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!

On The Road


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25 November 2017 - 11:49 am
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Hoppy Birthday wishes from me too!

 Did anyone notice symptoms of it spreading?     Were X-rays the only way to confirm if it spread? From time diagnosed, how long was it before it was confirmed metastasis?                                         Was your love able to outlive the survival median with treatment?                                                   Were you given the options of Carboplatin, Doxorubicin, or combination?                                Has anyone heard of the chemo treatment combination? Seems not as common

I remember having so many questions like this when we first got the news about Jerry's diagnosis. I will tell you though, that the best thing you can do right now is to focus on today. Snoopy is a champ and doing so well! Enjoy that and remember that all dogs are different: median survival times are statistics that don't take into account his health or his background. May he blow those statistics away! Meanwhile I will try to answer your questions as best I can:

Did anyone notice symptoms of it spreading?

Most times osteosarcoma goes to the lungs first. Symptoms are a dry hack and labored breathing. Yes, we noticed that in Jerry just over 20 months past amputation (yes, he survived TWO years and we even opted out of chemo).

Were X-rays the only way to confirm if it spread?

It's one diagnostic tool that can confirm. A CT scan can also do it. Whichever test you choose these diagnostics are the only way to know for sure as far as I understand.

From time diagnosed, how long was it before it was confirmed metastasis?

Fourteen months for Jerry. But ALL dogs are different. Please try not to compare Snoopy's situation against others. You'll make yourself crazy if you do.

  Was your love able to outlive the survival median with treatment?

Yes he did, and as mentioned we didn't do IV chemo. We did do metronomics after we found mets, and we believed it help him achieve "stable disease" and live an additional eight great months with us.

Were you given the options of Carboplatin, Doxorubicin, or combination? Has anyone heard of the chemo treatment combination? Seems not as common

You are correct. The standard among most oncologists is four to six rounds of Carboplatin only. Some vets will use a combination because they've had good success treating their patients with that protocol. Yes others have had the combination used for their dogs, our Forums are filled with their stories so be sure to do a thorough search (use "carboplatin, doxorubicin" as the two words to match and you'll come across them). Here is a blog post about doxorubicin side effects you want to check out.

I hope this helps. Whatever way you go remember that all we have is today. Cherish it, love Snoop every minute and remember he is is own doggy and will follow his own path on this journey. There are no right or wrong choices here.

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Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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25 November 2017 - 12:02 pm
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Thanks too for the birthday wishes!!! I understand every dog is individual and it’s hard to compare because so many things impact. Our goal is for Snoopy to bet this cancer and live a long and happy life! I just think it’s important for me to be informed. I want to be able to say I’ve chosen things because I feel that’s what’s best for him. No just because it’s been suggested. That’s why I’m so interested in comparing notes. So thank you all for sharing.  And yes I will do look that up. There’s lots to see on this sites so I apologize if I’ve asked questions that have already been asked. Have a good day. 

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25 November 2017 - 12:40 pm
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No apologies needed! You are just an anxious pawrent trying to stay on top of the game.  I'm glad you are getting some good input,  I hope it is helping to knock down some of that awful anxiety.  The more you learn the site the more information you will find.  I think just being in the company of people like the ones here is comforting.  There are people from all over the world that come here for many different reasons that lead to their furbabies becoming tripawds.  I don't think you can find a better support group than you have right here winker

Hugs,

Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry

Huckleberry's Blog

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