Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Our K went to CSU for an appointment today. Bad news all around. Her lung mets grew and multiplied. We're now in the range that no one is trying to count them. All that growing occurred despite the Palladia and metronomic chemotherapy . The oncologist suggested trying a wild shot in the dark, masitinib, for the lung mets and dropping the Palladia. Apparently, masitinib sometimes works for other kinds of cancers, and we have no other options left. So, we're trying it.
The final piece was that they can't figure out why K's leg is so swollen and sore. It does not look like the bone tumor is growing again. There also isn't a big fracture. So, we're just going to do pain management with a whole cocktail of drugs.
Believe it or not, K still seems happy. When we get out on the trails in the woods, she forgets that her leg hurts and has tons of fun. I love her spirit!
Has anyone else tried masitinib for osteosarcoma lung mets? I found posts about it but it was always for other kinds of cancer. Thanks.
K, an 8 year old chocolate lab, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma of the radius and ulna on 12/23/11. She had stereotactic radiation to kill the bone tumors, and 3 rounds of carboplatin. On 3/16/12, lung mets were found. We tried several different kinds of chemotherapy to slow the lung mets but none worked. Finally, mets appeared at other sites, including her spine. She earned her angel wings on July 15, 2012. K changed my life, and I'll never forget her. Our/my journey is chronicled at romp-roll-rockies.blogspot.com.
Yep, we did masitinib. Our onc said it sometimes works for dogs that can't tolerate the palladia (which Abby couldn't). It's my understanding that masitinib is sort of the European version of Palladia - it was developed in Europe around the same time Palladia was developed, and apparently they work in similar ways. I wish I could say it was a miracle drug for us. It was our final hope too, so we tried it.
Abby had swelling in her legs near the end. It was Hypertrophic Osteopathy. I noticed her remaining front leg swelling and she wasn't as mobile as before. Her back feet looked weird too, but they were identical, so I thought I was imagining it. Do her other legs look funny too? I hope this isn't what K has, but you might want to search on "HO" and find my post I did about it where I explain about it.
I'm glad she seems happy. Focus on that! Hang in there.
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
sorry the news about the mets is not good. thankfully k doesn't know what any of that means, and she only wants to keep enjoying the time she has with you guys. we don't have any experience with masitinib, hopefully someone else will jump in with suggestions. sending hugs to k, such a beautiful, brave girl!!
charon & spirit gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
I'm so sorry to hear this news. K is such an inspiration to us. Her blog is fantastic - what a way to live life!
Sending huge hugs and good thoughts
Joanne & Lylee
http://lyleegir.....ipawds.com
I'm a dummy - I had a brain blip (it happens a lot lately) and forgot that K still has her 'bad' leg. (So used to it being all amps here...) If it was HO there would be swelling in her other front leg as well.
Ignore me.
Anyway, if you have any questions about the masitinib, you could PM me. I remember we never were able to get her up to the full dose the onc wanted to give her as the full dose was too hard on her stomach. She was OK on a lower dose, but it didn't really help with the mets. I hope it will be different for you!
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
I don't have experience with mastinib. I think it was released for use in treating mast cell cancer, but lately I've been seeing it used for other cancers. I hope it has some good effects for K.
I'm glad to hear that K is still loving life. While she is feeling good there is hope for another day.
Karen and the pugapalooza
I'm so sorry to hear this news. Dang! But remember, K doesn't know what her x-rays looked like. Follow her lead, her attitude will get you through this.
No experience with mastinib but there has been mention of it before here, try searching the forums.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
So very sorry to hear this news. Jerry is right though, K has no idea. Sam had a similar issue where his mets grew and multiplied while on chemo - also at an alarming rate - we stopped counting too (it was 25+ at last count). Then we stopped all meds and x-rays and decided to let him take the lead. It's amazingly peacful and calming in a strange way. We put him on artiminisin and we got a heck of a lot longer than we should have given the met situation -- so don't get down and just let K's spirit shine - sounds like she still has more time to enjoy her days! Lots of hugs! xoxo Sue
I am terribly sorry to hear this bad news about K. Thank goodness dogs cannot understand all of this; I am glad to hear she is still loving life and enjoying her daily walks in the woods.
Scout: January 31, 2002 to November 7, 2011
Scout's diagnosis was "poorly differentiated sarcoma"; amputation 1/11/2011. Scout enjoyed 9 fantastic years on 4 legs and 9 glorious months on 3 legs. If love alone could have saved you…
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