So the vet called with Kasey's results. This maybe a lengthy post so bear with me!

The good news is the tumor was low grade. However, the stains were showing some "questionable readings" so the oncologist feels that we need to do some treatment. The oncologist said that radiation, chemo, or some type of injections (I wrote the name of them down but left them at work) were our choices. My vet said that radiation would have to be done at North Carolina State University which is an hour and a half drive from here. She said sometimes they have you drop the dog off, leave it for a couple of days, come back and get her, and then repeat the process for 4-6 weeks. The other option would be a daily chemo pill for two months or the injections. The injections would be once a week for four weeks and then once every other week for another four weeks. The problem with the injections is you have to do frequent blood work due to the impact on the bone marrow. So the vet told me she was waiting to hear back from NC State to get their report and she would let me know more.

I got this information while I was at work so I had to let it soak in. I called the vet back after work and asked her questions regarding how treatment would impact Kasey's age (she is 13), the fact that she has Cushings Disease, and her low thyroid. The vet said she had just heard from NC State and what they said was different than the oncologist. NC State said that at this stage radiation was not necessary due to the grade of the tumor. They said if it's possible to do surgery again and get more cells to do a better reading. If the most invasive form of surgery had already been done, then they suggested we just monitor it. My vet said they can not go back in and get anything else because the tumor was located right up to the rib cage and she got the best possible margins already. There is not enough skin left to work with if they went back in. So since we've already done the most invasive surgery, then according to NC State we just monitor it. She said if NC State felt that chemo or injections were necessary then they would've put that in the report. So now she feels like we are in limbo.

She said Kasey's age is definitely something to take into consideration. The chemo and injections can of course impact her. The chemo can make her not act like herself, be lethargic and not her normal self. The injections can cause GI issues and she would have to be on meds for that. The vet said that she would not like to see Kasey not be "Kasey". Now that NC State said what they did she feels that monitoring the situation may also be needed right now. So she is going to call NC State, tell them what the oncologist said and get their feedback. She is also going to talk to the other vet at the office, the one who did Kasey's amputation and get his input. She is off tomorrow so she said she would call me on Thursday or Friday.

So this is where we stand. I'm waiting to see what NC State has to say. I truly trust their input considering they rank #3 as vet hospitals and universities in the country.

Danell and Kasey

I'll have to ask mitotic index? I honestly cannot remember. She said they got good clear margins. When she originally had her leg amputated and the tumor removed a year and a half ago the margins were good and the index was low. I I will ask again about the injections. I can't recall the type but I know it's just a more aggressive approach than chemo pills. 

I am waiting for more input from the vet at NC State and my other vet. Right now Kasey is happy and loving life!