The oncologist wants to use IV Carboplatin every three weeks for five sessions at roughly $1000 a session. Did I say Annapolis is expensive?!?! I asked about the others but she feels that Carboplatin gives the best outcome w/less side effects.

Scott, Charlotte & PEZ

I'm not sure when they want to do the chemo, most likely 2 weeks after surgery. We're thinking the surgery will be next week, but we're not sure yet. One surgeon is on vacation until Feb 1st, the other surgeon is going on vacation on Tuesday and all while PEZ is walking around with a fractured leg.

I was more than a little stunned by your chemo estimate.  We paid about $1200 total for four carbo treatments.  Truthfully, we could not have afforded what you were quoted so our decision would have been made for us.  Have you checked around to see if someplace else can do it cheaper?

Debra & Angel Emily

Yeah, we were a bit stunned too about the chemo estimate. But figure amputation will be between $2500-$3500 and each chemo treatment around $1000 for Carboplatin (the oncologist said it's the most expensive, but the best according to her). Problem is this place seems to be the only one that everybody is referring to for chemo treatments. And as far as their good conscience, I haven't seen that side yet with regards to this place. However, there's not many surgeons out here that are available or willing to do the amputation.

Scott, Charlotte & PEZ

The fact that the amputation would be twice as much at the specialist, and the fact that the CBC tests every week after chemo were twice as much at the specialist, I am wondering if the actual chemo was twice as much at the specialist….hmmm…I've never thought about that before!  Anyhoo, it does seem that specialists tend to charge more because they are highly trained and have tons of experience, but $1000 seems pretty pricey.  Do you qualify for Care Credit?  Above cost though, I think finding a doctor you are comfortable with is a higher priority.  At Michigan Veterinary Specialists, where we took Jack, they treated him like he was part of their office staff – greeted him when he came in the door, talked about him when he wasn't there (I can't tell you how many times we heard "oh!  we were just talking about him!" when we could come in for appointments,) and the vet tech that cared for Jack was his one true love.  When we moved, we had techs that weren't even the primary oncology techs crying.  It made the whole ordeal so much easier to handle.  When we got to WA, we had 1 oncology visit out here.  I hated the doctor.  She was cold, overworked, and acted like if we didn't do things her way, there was no hope (that was 4 months ago, tyvm!).  It pretty much sealed the deal that we weren't going to do any more treatments.  A doctor that will listen to what you have to say, is willing to try new things, and is honest but gives you hope…nothing can beat that.  If you find a vet you like better than the one that is being recommended to you, I would suggest asking if they feel comfortable administering chemo (if they have experience with one chemo over another, perhaps you could look into a different protocol so you could use them).  I know you probably have a lot to think about, but I think the most important thing is to feel comfortable with any decision that you make, whether it be to do chemo or not, the type of chemo, and the treatment facility. 

<3 Laura and Jackers