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Starting Palladia next week possibly...
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South Jersey
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8 March 2015
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13 March 2015 - 10:45 am
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Our vet suggested we try Palladia starting next week after Jilly gets her staples removed. Has anyone else had luck with Palladia with an Osteosarcoma? He said that he didn't see any lung masses but it would be good to start it as a precaution and prevention. I've read stories where it helped and stories that said it doesn't work for osteos. So I just wanted to see if anyone had any personal experience with the drug.

Virginia







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22 February 2013
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13 March 2015 - 11:01 am
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First .....ADORABLE avatar picture!! Jilly is so cute!!

Okay, I'm no vet and certainly don't know the ends and outs of Jilly,'s diagnoses. Is your vet an Oncologist?

I can only tell you that..."in general.....ost osteo. Dogs here are on four or five rounds of carboplatin chemo. AGAIN, I'm no vet and every dog's diagnosis is different.

I do know from being on the site that Palladia can be one of the chemos that can cause a lot more severe side effects...sometimes, not always, but sometimes. Many here who jave used that drug will chime j n with their experiences.

As far as the Carboplatin, the sixe effects are few if at all, and fairly mild even if they do occur. My Happy Hannah sailed through her treatments with no issues at all. Somd dogs can experience a little nausea, but vets give you Cerenia for that. They may hsve a xay or two where they are tired or don't want to eat. But again, overall very mild side effects.

I would definitely seek out a second opinion from another Oncologist. You can do alot of research here on the site too about Palladia and the side effects.

Gove that cutie pie a big smooch for us!

(((((((((((((((Hugs))))))))))))))))

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!

South Jersey
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13 March 2015 - 12:31 pm
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He is not an oncologist and we haven't see one yet. I was debating if we should because, after the amputation and the xrays and all other costs, I hate to say it, but we don't have a lot of money left. She is worth all the money in the world...if we had it. I don't want to give up and I want to do what is feasible for her and our pockets. I hope that doesn't make me sound awful...I feel awful just typing it. :( That is why I was at least going to try the Palladia or seek something holistic. I'm just so lost and looking for the cure all...in pieces....even though I know I will never find it. How much is the Carboplatin if you don't mind my asking?

 

And btw....your avatar picture is adorable as well! I love the face! :)

Virginia







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13 March 2015 - 9:26 pm
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Oh goodness gracious, we ALL understand the financial nightmare!!! We can only do what we can afford.. This is a cruel position for us to be in and we HAVE to make choices based on our own situation! Our dogs would not want us to add even more of a hardship on ourselves due to this piece of crap disease.

For myself, I took every credit card to the limit and ...well...it jas not been an easy road at all...and my beloved Happy Hannah crossed over to the other side of life a year next month. I'm still very, very much financially strapped even now. With all my heart, I hope I never, ever jave to face this journey again for all the obvious reasons, but also because I knowI could not financially handle it. So yes, we all unxerstand completely! You are NOT giving up znd you are clearly a very loving and devoted mom.!!!
Now, as far as what I paid (or borrowed on my credit card), I'm actually going tonjave to go back and look thst up. I was in such an emtional wreck during the beginning process of this whole ordeal, Imw not sure what the cost was! I can tell you this also, there is a HUGE difference state to state and hospital to hospiatal!

I think we also jave a thread in here comparing prices. Imw thinking the price ranges anywhere from $600 to $1,500...yeah, that much of a discrepancy!

This place in your journey is soooooo emotionally draining you do, indeed, feel like you are falling to pieces. But you are stronger than you know! You have already endured some of the jardest part of this journey! You are still standing and so is Jilly!!!

Others will chime in with better input. But PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, KNOW, every single one of us understand the financial burden this journey forces on us and manynofnus are just not able to go the chemo route...or even the amputation route. And t h ose forced decisions jsve NOTHING fo do with the depth of love we feel for our furbabies! AND, there are no guarantees with or without chemo anyway! Fun journey, huh?winker

Lots of hugs to you and Jilly!

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!

On The Road


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13 March 2015 - 10:44 pm
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Never apologize about finances, we all get it. And you are NOT terrible for considering your financial situation. Look at it like this: our pets want us to be happy. If we go into insane amounts of debt and become stressed out about how we're gonna pay our bills, that doesn't help with quality of life, it detracts from it. That doesn't help our pets fight cancer. Do what is within your budget and know that there are no "right" or "wrong" decisions.

As for Palladia. There are all sorts of examples of it working or not working. Search the Forums like this and you'll find a lot of examples to sift through.

Costs for chemo vary by location, by protocol and by practitioner. This forum post will help you see the differences:

Costs of Amputation and Chemotherapy for Dogs: What Did You Pay?

As for seeing an oncologist, this post may also help (scroll down to see the comments)

Cancer Care: Oncologist or Family Vet, Which is Better?

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet



Member Since:
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14 March 2015 - 10:27 am
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I agree that financial stress doesn't help with quality of life. Here's a forum with ideas for resources that may help with costs: http://tripawds.....ncer-care/ and another one with a full list: http://tripawds.....e-program/ Perhaps there is some help for you and Jilly.

I seem to recall reading an article by a vet about financial stress but don't know where to find it here. Perhaps Jerry knows.

All the best to you and your sweet Jilly.

Kerren and Tri-kitty Mona

On The Road


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14 March 2015 - 11:29 am
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kazann said
I seem to recall reading an article by a vet about financial stress but don't know where to find it here. Perhaps Jerry knows.

Kerren and Tri-kitty Mona

Thanks Kerren, you have a fabulous memory! Here is the article:

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

South Jersey
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8 March 2015
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14 March 2015 - 4:48 pm
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benny55 said
Oh goodness gracious, we ALL understand the financial nightmare!!! We can only do what we can afford.. This is a cruel position for us to be in and we HAVE to make choices based on our own situation! Our dogs would not want us to add even more of a hardship on ourselves due to this piece of crap disease.

For myself, I took every credit card to the limit and ...well...it jas not been an easy road at all...and my beloved Happy Hannah crossed over to the other side of life a year next month. I'm still very, very much financially strapped even now. With all my heart, I hope I never, ever jave to face this journey again for all the obvious reasons, but also because I knowI could not financially handle it. So yes, we all unxerstand completely! You are NOT giving up znd you are clearly a very loving and devoted mom.!!!
Now, as far as what I paid (or borrowed on my credit card), I'm actually going tonjave to go back and look thst up. I was in such an emtional wreck during the beginning process of this whole ordeal, Imw not sure what the cost was! I can tell you this also, there is a HUGE difference state to state and hospital to hospiatal!

I think we also jave a thread in here comparing prices. Imw thinking the price ranges anywhere from $600 to $1,500...yeah, that much of a discrepancy!

This place in your journey is soooooo emotionally draining you do, indeed, feel like you are falling to pieces. But you are stronger than you know! You have already endured some of the jardest part of this journey! You are still standing and so is Jilly!!!

Others will chime in with better input. But PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, KNOW, every single one of us understand the financial burden this journey forces on us and manynofnus are just not able to go the chemo route...or even the amputation route. And t h ose forced decisions jsve NOTHING fo do with the depth of love we feel for our furbabies! AND, there are no guarantees with or without chemo anyway! Fun journey, huh?winker

Lots of hugs to you and Jilly!

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!

Thank you so much Sally! I guess that eventually the palladia would add up to the same cost as the intravenous chemo...or more....so have there been better outcomes with the intravenous? I'm so confused and lost! This is all so much to take in but I don't want to waste. And actually I am checking on getting my care credit limit increased because I feel like I want to be "all in". Even if she only gets another year...that's another year I get with her and that's really what matters. So now I just have to get recommendations for oncologists and call around. I also called and emailed a few places that do clinical trials but none have anything they can use her for :(

South Jersey
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8 March 2015
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14 March 2015 - 5:03 pm
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jerry said
Never apologize about finances, we all get it. And you are NOT terrible for considering your financial situation. Look at it like this: our pets want us to be happy. If we go into insane amounts of debt and become stressed out about how we're gonna pay our bills, that doesn't help with quality of life, it detracts from it. That doesn't help our pets fight cancer. Do what is within your budget and know that there are no "right" or "wrong" decisions.

As for Palladia. There are all sorts of examples of it working or not working. Search the Forums like this and you'll find a lot of examples to sift through.

Costs for chemo vary by location, by protocol and by practitioner. This forum post will help you see the differences:

Costs of Amputation and Chemotherapy for Dogs: What Did You Pay?

As for seeing an oncologist, this post may also help (scroll down to see the comments)

Cancer Care: Oncologist or Family Vet, Which is Better?

I seriously love you and your links! They are always so helpful! So thank you for that! I actually sucked up my pride and set up a go fund me account at the recommendation of an old friend. I've seen so many people posting to get vacations and new cars so why not try! I'm seriously going to do whatever I have to in order to save my girls life. I have to. It';s awkward and uncomfortable but it's for her...not me and that's what I need to keep thinking. So I'm thinking that I might go for the better chemo (if you can call it that). I have care credit too so I need to see about getting an increase because with my previous dental work needing two crowns and then the amputation, I'm already at my limit. I don't want to be in debt from this, but I also don't want to lose her and I'd rather pay more to have more time. Even though there are no guarantees, I would feel awful if I didn't try. I feel like my emotions are all over the place but there seems to be hope from what I've read. And it was hard for me to really grasp what everyone was saying about how "dogs don't have expiration dates stamped on their butts" (I love that one!) but I'm finally realizing that this does not have to be a death sentence. Now I just have to spend time researching the intravenous chemo! So much to research!!!! My brain is fried but I love that I can come to this site and find everything I need! You all have been so warm and welcoming as well as informative! A one stop shop! :)

South Jersey
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8 March 2015
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14 March 2015 - 5:05 pm
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kazann said
I agree that financial stress doesn't help with quality of life. Here's a forum with ideas for resources that may help with costs: http://tripawds.....ncer-care/ and another one with a full list: http://tripawds.....e-program/ Perhaps there is some help for you and Jilly.

I seem to recall reading an article by a vet about financial stress but don't know where to find it here. Perhaps Jerry knows.

All the best to you and your sweet Jilly.

Kerren and Tri-kitty Mona

 Thank you so much Kerren! I am heading over to check those out now! Hopefully I can find something!

 

Kim

Raleigh, NC
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29 April 2013
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14 March 2015 - 5:22 pm
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We all know the info overload you're going through. We have been in your shoes too.  The only thing you can do is make the best decision you can with the information you have on hand.  And never look back. 

Palladia is normally started after lung mets are seen.  For the dogs that respond to it, it works very well and often adds another 4 or 5 months if not more.

There are other forms of Metronomic therapy that are given every other day that do seem to work well.  Some people do metronomic therapy with IV chemo and some don't.  You often hear of dogs on metronomic therapy living a VERY long time but it does have side effects too.  Mostly bladder infections.  Mets do eventually catch up with them but it does seem to do a good job of keeping them at bay.

Four rounds of Carboplatin used to be the standard and now they're seeing that 5 or 6 seems to work better if the dog tolerates it well.  Not all oncologists actually keep up on the research though and your own vet won't know about cancer research unless it is a passion of theirs.  4 rounds was the standard for about 30 years.  That being said, some dogs still develop lung mets before their first round of chemo or very early on.  All I can tell you is that its a gamble and you have no idea what is or isn't going to work.  I've made comments on here before that if someone told you that part of their dog's cancer fighting protocol was to rub blue mud into their own navel twice a day, at least HALF of us here would try it and some would swear it works.  We love our babies and will often do anything to help them.

Nixon's chemotherapy was donated because he is a greyhound and there is a program at Ohio State that donates 4 rounds after amputation.   I would not have been able to afford it either (but probably would have done anything I could and sold everything I own to pay for it).  I understand exactly where you're coming from.  I still had to cover his bloodwork and IV supplies.  Nixon did not do well on chemo so we had additional costs of extra bloodwork every week plus special food and supplements to try to help him through it.  His food was $9/day plus supplements and vitamins.  I felt like we were hemmoraging money because we had to deal with my father-in-law in ICU for a horrible cardiac event 3 states away AND Nixon needing immediate surgery.  "Oh, another $1000 that I don't have?  Sure.  Let me write you a check."  My vet ate a lot of the costs too and he often gives us a 20% discount for being frequent fliers.  While I was in IL taking care of my FIL, my vet was taking care of Nixon personally.  Nixon attacked Cookie when his leg fractured.  I never was charged for the sutures and staples to put Cookie back together.  Or for all the xrays they did on his leg.  He shredded her ear badly but they did an amazing job putting it back together.

I'm checking right now but I do believe Dr. Couto now does oncology consultations for any breed of dog.  I've dropped them an email to confirm but probably won't get an answer until Monday.  His fee is $150 and I believe that is a one time fee and includes follow ups with your vet sending all the records to him.

http://coutovet.....rinarians/

He is extremely experienced in metronomic protocols as he spent the last 35 years in academia and research at Ohio State.   His focus is greyhound and other sighthounds but he is a leader in OSA research.

Another option is to go with Dr. Charles Loops and he uses homeopathic treatments.  they run about $200 every other month.  Plus he'll help you sort out the supplements and diet to use for your situation without overtaxing you or your pup.  He does all of his work via email and conference calls.

South Jersey
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14 March 2015 - 5:41 pm
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Thank you for all of that info! We are actually in NJ so a little bit away from there :( But I really appreciate you checking! And I love your blue mud analogy! So true! I'm seriously charging everything and willing to try almost everything within means. I've been trying to research diet, supplements, helpful devices like harnesses, shoes, and everything else. I want to do whats best for her....but she isn't everyone else so I don't know what is best so I want to try what I can and hope for the best. Someone recommended finding a holistic vet and I want to try different things but the consult fees everywhere add up so fast :( They really should offer free consults! Wouldn't that be wonderful!

 

Your vet sounds amazing by the way! I love our new vet but he doesn't offer discounts or anything like that and I don't think he would take our dog home...which is good because she's animal aggressive (came from a bad situation when we adopted her and has been that way ever since)! LOL But you are super lucky to have had all the help that you received which is amazing since you had to also deal with everything else at the same time. I can't even imagine!

Raleigh, NC
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14 March 2015 - 8:52 pm
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klove1432 said

Thank you for all of that info! We are actually in NJ so a little bit away from there :( But I really appreciate you checking!

Dr Couto just emailed me back. He sees all breeds now. It is all done via email and other online communication so you do not have to travel. He consults with vets and owners all over the world. You or your vet can initiate contact. $150 for him to review all the medical records, come up with a treatment plan, and follow up with the progress is pretty good deal IMO. I have my vet do the leg work and just CC me on the response.

I used the same service for Nixon except Dr. Couto was at Ohio State then. He retired from teaching and research right when Nixon finished up chemo.

South Jersey
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14 March 2015 - 9:16 pm
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ohmynixon said

klove1432 said

Thank you for all of that info! We are actually in NJ so a little bit away from there :( But I really appreciate you checking!

Dr Couto just emailed me back. He sees all breeds now. It is all done via email and other online communication so you do not have to travel. He consults with vets and owners all over the world. You or your vet can initiate contact. $150 for him to review all the medical records, come up with a treatment plan, and follow up with the progress is pretty good deal IMO. I have my vet do the leg work and just CC me on the response.

I used the same service for Nixon except Dr. Couto was at Ohio State then. He retired from teaching and research right when Nixon finished up chemo.

Oh! I didn't realize that! And if he suggests intravenous chemo, and my vet doesn't administer that, would he find me an oncologist and would I have to have a consult with that dr too or would I just go there for the treatments? I'm starting to get a little more hopeful! Thank you so much!

Virginia







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14 March 2015 - 9:21 pm
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Okay all you computer techies with memory brain cells still intact...what's the link to the comparisons of Carboplatin treatments (4, 5, or 6) that our dear Katy (Jackson's mom) did for us?

And, just to add more confusion, isnt the metronomic protocal supposedly....emphasis on supposedly...more effective AFTER chemo?

Be sure and slow down and continue to enjoy being in the moment with your girl, okay? And remember, we are all here with you!

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!

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