Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello all. We just became Tripawd parents this last Friday. So we are not to the Chemo stage yet. We have spoken with the Oncologist before surgery and though he did not give me drug specifics he said it would be 8 sessions over 6 months at around $350 per session for Synovial Cell Sarcoma.
Though money should never be a factor in our loved ones. We are about $3000 into treatment as it stands and my wife has had to take FMLA to go back home to Canada where her mom is suffering from lung cancer that has now spread to her brain.
So we are trying to make ends meet and was wondering what credible options are there for Chemo? First and foremost I do not like the specialists. They just seem cold to me. It is all a transaction to them. Our normal clinic's Dr's are soo amazing. They just care. They spend time with us. After the amputation I got a call from the Dr on a Saturday. He called me the night before the surgery just to make sure I had no additional questions or concerns and to ensure me he was going to bed at a decent hour lol. They do not do Chemo normally though. he said he could investigate treatment options for me.
Are we foolish to have someone other than an Oncologist do the Chemo treatments?
I'm so sorry about your mother-in-law, that's a tough situation and my heart goes out to your family.
About specialists...the price you were quoted sounds about right, you can see this forum topic to learn what others have paid in their parts of the world.
Costs of Amputation and Chemotherapy for Dogs: What Did You Pay?
Please do not feel guilty about factoring costs into the equation, that's just the way things are, we all do our best with what we have and our pets would never hold it against us if we didn't have money to do things like chemo. All our animals want is for each day to be great. If paying for chemo is going to make you stressed and upset, that is not a great day for anyone.
If you still want to do chemo and you're not comfortable with your oncologist, is finding another one where you live an option? If not, and you really want your vet to do it, I would ask about their experience level in administering chemo to animals. Accidents happen (i.e., chemo not given in the vein, spills and causes horrible skin conditions), side effects are unmanaged (i.e., vet doesn't know the best ways to prevent, not just treat chemo-related nausea or lack of appetite), and so on.
Many vets are skilled at giving chemo, many are not and I personally wouldn't go with any that wanted to give it a try with my dog (this is one reason we opted out of chemo for our Jerry, no skilled chemo oncos or vets in our part of the world at that time). Kinda like asking your family doctor to perform hart surgery. You want to be VERY sure that you will get great, safe and effective care or you're wasting your money and putting your dog at risk so ask a LOT of questions. Here's a place to get started:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I hope I'm not out of line here since I don't have a dog and I don't know anything about dog cancers. From my research on the type of cancer my cat had (fibrosarcoma) I found there is no credible research that proves chemo actually prolongs the cat's life or increases quality of life. Yet, some vet oncologists recommend chemo. Personally I would want to know more about the research results before I would proceed with chemo or radiation.
I'm sure others will chime in with their experience and knowledge.
Kerren and Trikitty Mona
Kerren and Mona....always good feedback!!
I can't give you insight into that particular type of treatment your pup may be taking. My Happy Hannah had four rounds of carbollatinn chemo for osteosarcoma. We had the privilege of having an additional one year and two months of more loving and spoiling than I ever thought possible! Did it have anything to do woth chemo??? I HAVE NO IDEA! Some who do chemo donte even get to finish the treatment before that nasty piece of crap disease takes over. Some who do chemo appear to get years as a result. Some who do not do checmo appear to get years.....some who do not do chemo cross over quickly.
It really seems to be a crap shoot! It comes down to personal choice based on you and your dog and whatever else may be going on in your lives.
And I think your Onco must have gone to school with my Happy Hannah's Onco and Surgeon.......the University of No Compassion or Bedside Manner!!! Imq pretty sure mine graduated at the topmof her class! Ive been on here long enough to know they are the exception and not the. norm. If at all possible, do ehatever it takes to get to another Specialist!!!!
Lpve your avatar picture of your pup! Tell us more about him when you can....and pictures!!!
Stay connected, okay? Sounds like you really have your hands full. Please jpknow we are all here ro help.
Healing thoughts to all...
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
benny55 said
Kerren and Mona....always good feedback!!I can't give you insight into that particular type of treatment your pup may be taking. My Happy Hannah had four rounds of carbollatinn chemo for osteosarcoma. We had the privilege of having an additional one year and two months of more loving and spoiling than I ever thought possible! Did it have anything to do woth chemo??? I HAVE NO IDEA! Some who do chemo donte even get to finish the treatment before that nasty piece of crap disease takes over. Some who do chemo appear to get years as a result. Some who do not do checmo appear to get years.....some who do not do chemo cross over quickly.
It really seems to be a crap shoot! It comes down to personal choice based on you and your dog and whatever else may be going on in your lives.
And I think your Onco must have gone to school with my Happy Hannah's Onco and Surgeon.......the University of No Compassion or Bedside Manner!!! Imq pretty sure mine graduated at the topmof her class! Ive been on here long enough to know they are the exception and not the. norm. If at all possible, do ehatever it takes to get to another Specialist!!!!
Lpve your avatar picture of your pup! Tell us more about him when you can....and pictures!!!
Stay connected, okay? Sounds like you really have your hands full. Please jpknow we are all here ro help.Healing thoughts to all...
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!
Oh I will most definitely keep you guys updated. I also found out from the Oncologist that he now says he was not 100% sure it was Synovial Cell or a Histiocytic Sarcoma. =( He said he was pretty sure that it was Synovial cell based on the first biopsy but that a biopsy should of been done on Bonz's tumor once his leg was removed. The surgeon did not do a biopsy because the medical files he received from the Oncologist stated it WAS SYNOVIAL CELL. Not It MIGHT BE. So that is a bit disheartening. I know every human makes mistakes though and there is nothing we can do about that now.
Dr also called back to say he feels that an oral Chemo called CCNU is the route he wants to go. And that it is a little less expensive than what he told me yesterday and will be about $250 per session.
Though looking through the forums I see a lot of OTHER chemo drugs mentioned more prominently so I hope he knows what he is doing =/
Ohh sorry about the biopsy results, I'd be bummed out about that too. Yep, a biopsy is typically done again when the leg is off. But since nobody can change what happened, it's just best to move forward.
CCNU (aka Lomustine) has been used by quite a few members here so no worries, it's pretty common really. You're just seeing other drugs like carboplatin being mentioned more because those drugs are used in treating osteosarcoma, which is a more common cancer among our members. I would ask the onco what kind of results it has on both types of cancer, since neither one can be confirmed.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
You're doing the right thing in researching into it all....that'll help you to formulate a list of questions to throw at the onco when you speak next.
Tests are not always conclusive (as we have found out twice over having paid a lot of money for them to be done)...we were soooooo frustrated. Theres no changing that now sadly for you so try not to loose hope in your vets but do gain other opinions if in doubt or you will be questioning your decisions based their opinions all the while which you wont want.
Keep strong with all your circumstances...sending thoughts.
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