Hi Rene 🌺

Thank you so much for the advice and for your kind words 💕

Yes, I suppose there aren't good margins but at the moment we haven't got enough feedback to understand what is going on in detail.

Both Moms are waiting to meet an oncologist who will hopefully explain what the situation is, up to now they only saw their vets who obviously aren't knowledgeable enough to deal with such a complicated scenario ... 

I'd never hear about the hemipelvectomy before so was cheering madly and jumping up and down with joy (and Angel Eurydice too) as all of a sudden surgery might be possible  for these big cuties after all ! 

As for Hazel's Tripawd Tuesday I'd seen it yesterday and directed them to the blog, it is such an incredible example of how a 9 year old Dane can be so happy and enjoy life to the full 💓🐮💓

How can I get in contact with Hazel's pawrents to get more info?

Are they on Tripawds? 

Thank you again for your precious help, I've already texted both Moms with the info. 

I'll keep you posted on the progress, it might be useful to others who might be facing a similar problem with their fluffies. 

Sending you a huge bear hug 💕🐻💕 and lots of happy woof woofs from the sky 😘😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹

Hi everybody 🌷

Here are the developments concerning treatment for possible inoperable bone tumour  located on the hip. 

1. Cyber Knife Radiation 

So ... thanks to Rene I contacted Joel (Hazel's Dad) to get more info on cyber knife radiation and would like to share it with you.

Joel was fantastically wonderful and provided all the info so we can understand how it works. 

Cyber knife differs from normal palliative radiation because the radiation dose is much higher and extremely precise.

Based on 3D images captured during a CT scan or MRI an analyst maps the various angles the radiation can be delivered and finds the combination of angles that provide the greater dose to the tumour. By doing so healthy tissue will not be hit as it would with traditional radiation. 

The high dose of radiation to the tumour is quite effective at slowing down its growth and eliminates pain very effectively. 

Statistics show cyber knife combined with carboplatin represent an average survival of 11 months, much better than traditional radiation. 

Dogs must be under general anestesia and most protocols consist on a 5 session treatment, five days in a row.

Anestesia is not as high a dose as for a normal surgery as the aim here is simply to get the dog imobilized during 1h to complete the treatment.

The treatment lasts for many months (in Hazel's case 7 months of a pain free, happy life) and can be repeated in the future.

There is no maximum amount of times it can be repeated but the snag here is radiation weakens the bone so the risk of a pathological fracture is there and has to be taken into consideration. 

The aim of cyber knife radiation is to slow the tumour growth and shrink it and at the same it reduces substancially the pain for the dog.

Hazel showed no side effects from the treatment. 

2. Calcium injections

This is brand new to me.

I spoke to Archa's Mom tonight (she is seeing oncologist tomorrow) to let her know about cyber knife radiation and she told me one of her friends mentioned her best friend (human) has inoperable osteosarcoma.

She did chemo but tumour was unresponsive so her oncologist proposed an experimental treatment which consists of calcium injections once a month. 

She started those eight months ago and the tumour is stabilised since then! 

How it works is calcium wraps around the tumour and that stops it from growing and from spreading.

Of course, dosage has to be calculated individually and monitored with blood tests. 

So, Cathy wants to try that with Archa as it can do no harm and can be combined with chemo in Archa's case. 

I feel really happy right now as I was told about these two possibilities, wouldn't it be marvellous if we could tackle this horrid disease ? 

I just feel we are getting closer and closer, even if Eurydice could never live long enough to be saved my heart is full of joy just thinking at some point others will be able to live their lives and no longer fear osteosarcoma. 

Sending you all a huge hug, cuddles and lots of happy woof woofs from Miss Cow from the sky 😘😘😘😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹

Just a quick update on Archa and Flo 🐮🐮

They were seen by a very competent oncologist at Lyon cancer centre today, and:

Archa did a CT scan this afternoon, I don't know the results yet.

Oncologist says she doesn't think Archa can get an amputation due to the location of the tumour but will give final advice when she sees scan results. 

Flo did a biopsy to check whether tumour is cancerous.

Oncologist says Flo can get an amputation if it is a malign tumour. 

Will keep you posted.

Love and cuddles to everyone 😘😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹