Hi Chris and Rusty, welcome. I'm sorry you are dealing with osteosarcoma, it's a tough diagnosis to get but we are here to support you through treatment and beyond! 

MedVet is an awesome clinic practice, you are so lucky to be working with them. It sounds like you and Rusty will be participating in what they are calling the "Experimental EGFR/HER2 Tumor Vaccine," which is otherwise referred to as The Yale Vaccine because that's where it was developed. We have a number of Tripawds members also doing this treatment so you are in great company!

It’s my understanding that even if there is no indication of the tumor metastasizing ……..lungs are clear……..that after removing the tumor/leg…….that this cancer starts attacking him aggressively.

Try not to panic. Yes, it's true that by the time amputation happens there are "micro-metastases" in the body that are too small to get picked up by X-rays (but can usually be caught with CT scans). But it doesn't always behave as aggressively as you might be thinking. Many dogs (including our Jerry, who lived 2 years post diagnosis) will go on to defy the odds and outlive the prognosis. So try not to focus on those numbers and statistics. Remember, Rusty is his own dog, with his own physiology. Osteosarcoma can be mean and unpredictable, there's no doubt. Some dogs will live a shorter time than the prognosis, some will exceed it. Immunotherapyis giving more dogs a better chance at longevity, and we've seen some like Dexter live into old age.

Right now, the important thing is to focus on the here and now with Rusty, and take things one step at a time. That is the best medicine! Focus on his recovery, know that he is getting the great care possible, and everything after amputation is icing on the cake because now he is able to get around without that bad leg.

He is going to surprise the heck out of you! How is he doing?

And thank you so much for your generous support of our community!