Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Just looking for some in put. Howard was diagnosed with primary bone hemangiosarcoma 1 week ago and our surgeon reached out to the oncologist we will be seeing to get some input. She does not recommend chemo because this cancer is not very responsive to it. Howard also has an autoimmune disease which we would need to change up his meds to even do chemo. I have seen some dogs on this forum do well with doxyrubisone ( not sure about the spelling) so I’m looking for input on how your dog did, and if you did not do chemo what did you use? I know this cancer is very rare so all statistics are based on splenic hemangiosarcoma. Thanks in advance, just want to have everything planned for this visit next week!
Jet had subcutaneous/intramuscular hemangio, a tumor that felt like a firm lipoma near his sternum, and suddenly, it turned ropey feeling if that makes any sense. We had it removed but it was woven into his muscle fibers and the margins were not clean. He was diagnosed in late May, but just had clear X-rays yesterday. He shows no signs of visceral involvement on palpitation, and no lumps or thickening tissue near his incision. Jet's oncologist is quite optimistic, especially now with the clear chest X-rays.
When he was diagnosed, our oncologist recommended I'm Yunity, an extract from Turkey Tail mushrooms, but at 72 pounds, that was going to cost $8 to $10/day, and the only study I could find was at Penn where they tested 15 dogs. The manufacturer funded the study. I found options with Canine Matrix (Turkey Tail and MRM powders) and K9 Immunity Plus, and started Jet on them immediately. We saw our oncologist a week or so later, and he strongly recommended revision surgery for clean margins and Doxorubicin. Surgery wasn't going to happen, but we did start the Doxorubicin. That's a harsh drug. It really messed with Jet's digestion (not sick per se but no appetite for 3 or 4 days after treatment), and now, he's lost much of the fur around his eyes and on his snout. Last I checked, he has 2 whiskers left. Anyway, he's done with chemo, and our oncologist says median survival for sub Q hemangio successfully treated with Doxorubicin is 1,000 days. I haven't been able to confirm that anywhere, but positive thinking, right?
So, 5 rounds of chemo plus the herbal medicines he continues to take and we're thinking we might have this whipped. We're just home from our 2 1/4 mile walk and Jet's resting behind me. His appetite is back, and he's lost no weight. We're looking forward to getting some fur back, but for now, he's all set for Halloween, and we're enjoying the moment.
I'm sure hemangio in the bone is a different beast, but it's still not visceral which is what we always read about, and amputation generally leaves clean margins. There is a blog out there about Butchey who lived (I believe) 27 months after amputation for hemangio. It's an absolutely hilarious blog that I highly recommend.
I have seen some dogs on this forum do well with doxyrubisone ( not sure about the spelling) so I’m looking for input on how your dog did, and if you did not do chemo what did you use?
We've had a few members here deal with hemangiosarcoma (I think I told you about Rocco, and also see these forum search results and Butchey Hudson's blog). We also did a video about Doxorubicin side effects that you may want to check out.
Also, this Tripawds Nutrition post may be helpful (it refers to the I'munity study by Penn State): https://nutriti.....giosarcoma
I would ask the oncologist what she recommends in lieu of chemotherapy. Let us know what she says OK?
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howard said
Thank you very much. I have ordered the mushroom supplement for him and after I get him settled on it, I plan to add the k9 immunity support as well
As you're shopping, watch for K9 Immunity and K9 Immunity Plus. The "Plus" adds ingredients that, as I understand things, act as a catalyst making the original ingredients more effective. To my simple, non-biochemist mind, that catalyst will help the other mushroom supplements as well.
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