hemangiosarcoma possibility
- Thread starter dorloff
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gtntuf
Super Boxer
I am so sorry to hear about Freckles. I lost one of my cats a couple of months ago to the same thing. We found it too late and it had spread too far before the surgery. Hopefully, you caught it in time and Freckles will be with you many more years to give you all her boxer love.
dorloff
Boxer Booster
Update on Freckles
Thanks again for all the support. We are really going to need it. Yesterday, we met with the oncologist. Freckles liked her right off the back. The oncologist said that with the chemo - Freckles can live for at least 9 more months. She told us that she is recovering very well after the surgery and is good health. What hurts us is that she is in good health and that she has this horrible cancer. Anyhow, the vet was ready to start the chemo treatment yesterday because Freckles was ready. We could not believe it because I was prepared for the absolute worse. Unfortunately, the vet did not have enough of the chemo medicine because she just had to take care of a great dane and another large dog. Wondering - has anyone had the experience with their babies using Carboplatinum and then the next treatment will be Doxorubicin to fight HSA cancer? If so - how did the dogs respond like a change in their quality of life? Able to beat some of the odds? Really appreciate the help.
Thanks again for all the support. We are really going to need it. Yesterday, we met with the oncologist. Freckles liked her right off the back. The oncologist said that with the chemo - Freckles can live for at least 9 more months. She told us that she is recovering very well after the surgery and is good health. What hurts us is that she is in good health and that she has this horrible cancer. Anyhow, the vet was ready to start the chemo treatment yesterday because Freckles was ready. We could not believe it because I was prepared for the absolute worse. Unfortunately, the vet did not have enough of the chemo medicine because she just had to take care of a great dane and another large dog. Wondering - has anyone had the experience with their babies using Carboplatinum and then the next treatment will be Doxorubicin to fight HSA cancer? If so - how did the dogs respond like a change in their quality of life? Able to beat some of the odds? Really appreciate the help.
SuzanneC
Super Boxer
In my experience, dogs do very well with both carboplatin and doxorubicin. They do need regular bloodwork to make sure they can handle the next treatment, and sometimes have to skip a week and go on antibiotics if their white blood cell count gets too low. Most of them don't even realize they're getting chemotherapy.
Doxorubicin can cause stomach upset, and is cardiotoxic. The cardiotoxicity is cumulative, and the risk is greatly lessened when a combination therapy is used. If your oncologist hasn't already mentioned it, it's best to have a baseline cardiology workup before starting doxorubicin therapy. One of my patients last summer was on weekly doxorubicin therapy, and she did very well for a number of months.
I like carboplatin better than its related drug, cisplatin. Though it is more expensive, carboplatin is much less toxic to the kidneys and does not have to be infused over a whole day with diuresis like cisplatin.
Doxorubicin can cause stomach upset, and is cardiotoxic. The cardiotoxicity is cumulative, and the risk is greatly lessened when a combination therapy is used. If your oncologist hasn't already mentioned it, it's best to have a baseline cardiology workup before starting doxorubicin therapy. One of my patients last summer was on weekly doxorubicin therapy, and she did very well for a number of months.
I like carboplatin better than its related drug, cisplatin. Though it is more expensive, carboplatin is much less toxic to the kidneys and does not have to be infused over a whole day with diuresis like cisplatin.
dorloff
Boxer Booster
Thank you SuzanneC
Thank you so much for the information. The oncologist does the following before giving Freckles cancer. She does an EKG and radiograph. So far everything looks good. She will be doing an ultrasound of the liver later to see how the chemo is responding. A week after chemo we have to come back and do blood work to check on her blood cell counts. What is really awesome is the support Freckles is getting. Our cousin is a technician at the oncologist office. She is almost done with veterinarian school. It is great having her there. She will be administrating her chemo. Her mom who is my husband's godmother as well as aunt is a pathologist. She will be helping us read her blood work. The oncologist wants to do the chemo sessions every 3 weeks. We are really hoping that after the first 2 sessions that the cancer is under some control. I know that when Freckles gets thru the first 2 sessions -things will be a bit better. Wish that this cancer will go into remission but I am truly hoping for a miracle. We are hoping to giver her life as long as a life as we can with chemo, diet, and vitamins.
Tomorrow will be a big day for us!!
Thank you so much for the information. The oncologist does the following before giving Freckles cancer. She does an EKG and radiograph. So far everything looks good. She will be doing an ultrasound of the liver later to see how the chemo is responding. A week after chemo we have to come back and do blood work to check on her blood cell counts. What is really awesome is the support Freckles is getting. Our cousin is a technician at the oncologist office. She is almost done with veterinarian school. It is great having her there. She will be administrating her chemo. Her mom who is my husband's godmother as well as aunt is a pathologist. She will be helping us read her blood work. The oncologist wants to do the chemo sessions every 3 weeks. We are really hoping that after the first 2 sessions that the cancer is under some control. I know that when Freckles gets thru the first 2 sessions -things will be a bit better. Wish that this cancer will go into remission but I am truly hoping for a miracle. We are hoping to giver her life as long as a life as we can with chemo, diet, and vitamins.
Tomorrow will be a big day for us!!
dorloff
Boxer Booster
Update on Freckles after her first chemo
Hi Folks,
Well today was a very nervous day. It was Freckles first chemo session. Her heart is in good condition, no tumors could be found and her blood count is in great condition. She was so happy to see her oncologist.
The oncologist was happy to see how great she was doing. The only thing that she had to say was to watch her diet. Freckles has gained two pounds after her surgery. They started her on dioxorubicin. My husband and a technician helped hold her, while our cousin administered the chemo. She did not whimper but stayed extremely relaxed. My Freckles has such a great attitude. My mother-in-law feels that we can learn from her in regards to positive attitude.
I know that we are just starting and we have a tough fight on our hands but it just feels great knowing that she is fighting this disease. I just pray that her body handles all of this.
Please keep her in your prayers and healing vibes. She is going to need so much of it.
I want to thank everyone for their support. You don't know how grateful we are for it. I am really learning how life is so precious and to not take anyone as well as God's four legged creatures for granted.
Again thanks so much and I'll be keeping in touch!!
Hi Folks,
Well today was a very nervous day. It was Freckles first chemo session. Her heart is in good condition, no tumors could be found and her blood count is in great condition. She was so happy to see her oncologist.
The oncologist was happy to see how great she was doing. The only thing that she had to say was to watch her diet. Freckles has gained two pounds after her surgery. They started her on dioxorubicin. My husband and a technician helped hold her, while our cousin administered the chemo. She did not whimper but stayed extremely relaxed. My Freckles has such a great attitude. My mother-in-law feels that we can learn from her in regards to positive attitude. I know that we are just starting and we have a tough fight on our hands but it just feels great knowing that she is fighting this disease. I just pray that her body handles all of this.
Please keep her in your prayers and healing vibes. She is going to need so much of it.
I want to thank everyone for their support. You don't know how grateful we are for it. I am really learning how life is so precious and to not take anyone as well as God's four legged creatures for granted.
Again thanks so much and I'll be keeping in touch!!
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