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We are seeing an oncologist at Purdue University. It has been quite
an ordeal getting to this point. She first showed
sensitivity about
5-6 weeks ago. She had managed to sneak out of the
house and roam
the neighborhood a little. We thought maybe she
got hurt while she
was out, so our local vet did an X-ray which
showed nothing at the
time. We treated it as a bruise with pain
medication. When she got
worse and a lump started growing, we rushed her to
Purdue on advice
from our vet. They did a core biopsy but one week
later the results
were not conclusive. There was too much dead
tissue to get a good
read. Back to Purdue she went, this time for a
surgical biopsy.
This time they got so much tissue, the lump
actually was reduced by
one third. Ten days later was when we got the news
that it was a
rare form of telangiectatic
osteosarcoma which I understand produces
the large amounts of dead tissue, thereby
complicating diagnosis.
Since it is in her ribs, they would have to remove
two ribs, put in
a mesh and possibly do a skin graft over the area,
then follow up
with Chemo. Since she is 13, I am not sure if that
is fair to her
to put her through that. I am especially concerned
since it took so
long to finally determine the cause that the
opportunity to make any
meaningful contribution to extending her life may
have passed. Does
anyone have any experience with an old dog they
can share?
Thanks,
Joel
--- In endlesslove@y...,
"christy rosebush" >
wrote:
> Joel,
>
> I am so very sorry to hear about your Beagle,
Belle. It is shocking news, I
> know. My dog Casie,
7 years, was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in her
right
> hind leg. I wish I could share a happy
outcome with you, but sadly she
> succumbed to this awful disease.
>
> While I am not familiar with Osteosarcoma in the ribs, I can share a bit of
> what her Veterinarian talked about. I am not
familiar with your Belle's
> history and am sure each case is unique.
>
> Casie was Rott/Malamute mix. She was a runner and was always getting
> herself into one "accident" after
another. This last time, she jumped the
> fence and came back limping. We were sure it
was a sprain and back to the
> Vet. for more pain
med. When that didn't seem to work, I had him take an
> X-ray to make sure there was no hairline
fracture. Shock of my life. Bone
> cancer and quite a shadow. What was
interesting was that it showed up at
> the site of her old fracture. She was hit by
a car at 9 months and the
> result was a plate with three screws in her
thigh. This was left in because
> it is major surgery through the muscle, to
take out. Dr. Maves said, there
> seems to be a correlation between metallic
plates, and the development of
> Osteosarcoma. I was
never told this at her old Vets. No choice anyway, as
> the plate was necessary. While not a proven
theory, he said there was
> enough evidence for him to believe a
connection. I have heard from others
> on this site that this seems to be true. Some
have even reported that the
> actual fracture site may be the trigger and
not the plate. Has Belle
> fractured any ribs that you know of?
>
> The initial plan was to amputate the hind
leg. We never discussed Chemo as
> I was too shaken at the time. I think he
wanted to find out what we were up
> against before going further with treatment.
We had chest X-rays done. I
> was fortunate in that his wife is a
Veterinarian at Michigan State
> University. I got all my second opinions at
no cost. It was this avenue
> that determined Casie's
cancer had metasticized to her chest cavity. She
> went downhill so quickly that there was no
need for further opinions, or
> treatment. She let us know it was her time.
Thankfully, we had no
> indication that she was ill before the limp
started. I keep that in my
> heart that while quick, she didn't suffer for
long.
>
> After joining this site and learning more, I
strongly suggest you be
> persistent with your decisions. This seems to
be a very aggressive type of
> cancer. If you catch it quickly and take
steps, the result can be more
> positive than was Casie's
case. I would seek a Vet. Oncologist if you have
> any access. Also, many here have had very
positive results with holistic
> methods. I will leave it to them to direct
you to the appropriate sites.
>
> I wish you the very best in your fight. Know
that I am rooting for you and
> your Belle. Wish I had more info, feel free
to post whenever you need
> direction, or a shoulder to lean on.
>
> Christy and the Zoo(present and past)
>
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