Tue Dec 21, 1999 2:42pm
Rough time with Hoover
Whew!
Just when I throught life was going to be easier for Hoover and I, (chemo
only every third week) Hoover had a really bad reaction to Vincristine! He
was doing so well. We lowered his Doxirubicin down by 25% and had low
level of a reaction, Vincristine would cause him to skip a meal and maybe
vomit once. So basically all drugs where causing minor illness for about
one day.
Thursday Hoover had his Vincristine by a different Vet and by Saturday he
was vomiting off and on all day long. I had to take him off oral Reglan and
start him on shots of Prochlorperazine intramuscularly which I hate doing.
He still needed fluids by the evening, so off we went to the Emergency
Clinic. His white count was only slightly low, so we didn't start
antibiotics. Mistake! Sunday no vomiting, but diarrea, so we went to his
general practitioner who was in on Sunday and gave him more fluids and went
home with bags of fluids and a quick lesson on how to run IV's of fluids
under the skin. Monday he seem fine and was eating. Monday around five it
look like he was trying to vomit, so I took him temp and it was 104 degrees!
I rushed him back to the clinic and his blood count was down to 100! We
start injectable antibiotics and went home. By 10 pm, I had a really sick
dog that was shaking so hard the bed shook. Than panting started and he
would switch between the two. At 3 am I was coached by the emergency vet
over the phone on how to run the IV. It worked and Hoover was resting more
comfortable within a half an hour. His temp. peeked at 105 degrees! Very
scary night!
The game plan for the future will be to reduce the Vincristine by 25 % and
with any excessive vomiting to go ahead and start antibiotics and not wait
for a drop. Hoover acted normal with a temp of 104 and we were very
surprized by his blood work.
My adrenaline is still up and it does help to write it all down. Hoover is
looking pretty good right now and this is all I need for a very Merry
Christmas!
Hope this makes sense, I need some sleep!
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Born 1/10/93, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Diet, Supplements
Wed Dec 22, 1999 6:02pm
Hoover is recovering!
Thanks for all the support! Hoover is recovering very fast.
The wee hours of tuesday where a bit scary,
but today Hoover seems to be his normal self.
I'm amazed at how fast his recovery has been.
Bless you and your fur kids!
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Born 1/10/93, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Diet, Supplements
I'm Back, I think?
I thought it is was quite, but just discovered I haven't been receiving
messages from this list for several days. Thank goodness for the archives!
I called my server and they say everything is fine from there end, but it
really frustrates me when I find out I'm missing a lot of messages. I wish I
knew what was happening. I hope to catch up on the past posts soon.
Hoover and I had an unexpected Christmas present. A person I have only met
twice, gave Hoover $200.00 towards his medical bills! I have had a lot of
nice presents over the years and sometimes of greater value, but somehow
this gift has touch me more than any other gift I have ever received!
I spent the next day working on a thank-you card. I have all four dogs in
front of a small Christmas tree with Raz holding a sign that says, "Thanks
Bonnie". It turned out real cute. Hoover should have been holding the
sigh, but has forgotten his hold cue, but Raz was willing to help out.
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Born 1/10/93, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Diet, Supplements
Sun Jan 9, 2000 4:01pm
Herbs for Pets
For Xmas I received a new book "Herbs for Pets" by Mary L. Wulff-Tilford
and Gregory L. Tilford. I wrote Mary and received permission to post parts
of her book. I just love her book and I thought I would share some of it
with you.
She recommends a tonic for cancer support. Here is a passage in her book.
"Combine the following low alcohol (glycerin) herb tinctures:
2 parts red clover
1 part astragalus
1 part dandelion root
1 part garlic
This formula can be fed continuously over a long period: 0.5 milliliters per
20 pounds of the animal's body weight, three time daily. If constipation is
part of your animal's problem, try adding 2 parts marshmallow to the
formula. If this fails to bring results, add 1 part yellow dock. If that
doesn't work, try substituting the yellow dock with turkey rhubarb. I liver
damage is evident or a threat, twice-daily doses of milk thistle may be fed
in addition to this formula to help repair and protect the liver. A
standardized milk thistle preparation that contains at least 70 percent
silymaring constituents is best for repairing an already damaged liver."
The cancer chapter really pushes red clover as being really important, this is
something Hoover isn't getting yet, but I'm going to buy some soon.
This is what she says on red clover-
"Red clover is at the top of our list of anticancer herbs because it
inhibits the activities of carcinogenic compounds, helps improve blood
structure, and strengthens lymphatic functions that are crucial in cleansing
cell tissue throughout the body. It also contains sterol constituents that
are believed to inhibit the production of blood vessels that supply and
support newly formed tumors."
The book is incredible and tells how to use, grow, prepare and the
dangers of herbs too. Mary is on the net and was great about answering
my questions!
The full title of the book is" All You Ever Wanted to Know
About Herbs for Pets" Authors: Mary L. Wulff-Tilford & Gregory L. Tilford
and is published by BowTie Press ISBN 1-889540-46-3 Copyright 99
Cost: $39.95 It is available through Amazon.com.
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Age 7, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Raw Cancer Diet, Supplements
Fri Jan 14, 2000 1:12pm
Quick update on Hoover and family
This has been a busy week. Hoover is switching oncologists, we have an
appointment Feb 4 with Dr. Jeglum in Pennsylvania. The real test of love
for me is not so much the hard come by money I've spent on Hoover, but how
far I'm willing to drive. I need everyones support and well wishes on that
day! I hate long drives!
Keegan, Hoover's 14 year old mother, has a growth on her rectum. We hope it
is not cancer, but it will be removed on Jan 28. Caper, Hoover's half
sister(12 years), will have two teeth pulled on the same day. So I'm really
nervous. The doctor didn't think Keegan's growth was cancer, but it needs
to be checked out. Blood work has been done and looks good.
Hoover is back to normal, but still has extreme hair loss. Please visualize
him as active with long healthy hair! No cancer Cells!
Bless all your pets - death to cancer cells!
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Age 7, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Diet, Supplements
Sat Jan 15, 2000 7:09am
Quick update on Hoover and family
???????????????????????????????????????
Lori- OK. I am picturing Hoover with luscious, luxuriant, ample
hair--sort of like Dolly Parton's. He has no cancer cells. Not a one.
In fact, if he passes someone in the street with incipient cancer
cells, his aura burns those cancer cells to smithereens. If he breathes
on your computer screen while you are writing to us all, his powers of
recuperation will spread to us all. Hope this is helpful.
I'm holding Hoover up to the screen as I write!
Thanks.
Lori
Thu Jan 20, 2000 12:28pm
Hoover's Family
Hi,
Hoover's mom's growth start to grow fast, so we moved the surgery for both
my old gals to tomorow - Friday.
Wish us luck, I'm alway nervous during surgery. No time to write - I'll
catch up with everyone soon.
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Age 7, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Diet, Supplements
Keagan (Sheltie, Age 14, growth on rectum)
Caper (Sheltie, Age 12, two molars to be extracted)
Razzle (Sheltie, Age 8, just mischievous)
Sahara (Somali cat, Age 10, computer wizard)
Fri Jan 21, 2000 2:56pm
Hoover's mom and aunt are doing fine
The old girls are home and doing fine. I stayed for the surgeries and they
put me to work -comforting them coming out of the anesthesia. Which I'm
grateful. Most offices just put them in a cage and let them go through it
by themselves, which sometime is not a pretty site.
Keegan's growth we think is not cancer, but we won't know for sure until the
biopsy results come back.
Caper who had two bilateral split molars, ended up having 3 teeth pulled!
Thanks for all your prayers and support.
Now I just need to get through Hoover's trip to meet Dr. Jeglum which looks
like a five and a half hour drive!
Lori
Hoover, Keegan, Caper, Razzle and Sahara.
Wed Jan 26, 2000 8:34am
Percent of Carbs
Nancy,
Any way, does anyone know what is a good % of carbs to give in ratio to
> protein. I know Ben get to many, but less than he used to get.
Hoover receives no grains and his vegetables are 30% if his diet. I try for
low carb vegetables, but still like pumpkin and carrots in small amounts.
I wrote Lew Olson yesterday of http://www.b-naturals.com/. She is about
ready to have available a supplement mix for cancer dogs that has everything
but the flaxseed oil. I will be real interested to see what all it has in
it. Lew's prices are usually pretty good too. I currently spend an hour a
week dividing up Hoover's vitamins!
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Age 7, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Diet, Supplements
Wed Jan 26, 2000 8:05pm
Negative Tumor and Snow & Snakes in the Attic
What a day!
I'm off sick with a chest cold. I'm not a good person when I'm sick.
I notice a drip of water dripping - where? Must be out side of the house.
No it is dripping from the ceiling. Up in the attic which is small and
hard to get into - I notice drifts of snow. The snow has somehow blown
threw the ridge vent. This is the second time. I hate going in the attic!
I make it up there and worry how I'm going to get down. I start getting up
the snow and oh my gosh there is huge snake skins up here! I get down fast
and notice one of my favorite hair sticks is missing. I realize I have to
go back to find it. #!*%*! The phone rings it Keegan's doctor - the tumor
is negative! Poor man has to tell me several times as I'm still muttering
over the snow and snakes in the attic.
It seems like one problem goes away and another take it's place! Hoover
acts normal, but it looks like he has major bruising on one hip and his gums
look perhaps pale. Tomorrow he is due for more chemo. I think we will do
more blood work even though he just had some two weeks ago.
I might be just really freaking out. He just finished playing a good game
of fetch with his toy - stole one of Raz's treats. Tonight he sleeps on my
bed where I can watch him closely.
Nine more days to meet Dr. Jeglum. ( Hoover's new Oncologist)
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Age 7, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Diet, Supplements
Thu Jan 27, 2000 5:17pm
Cancer's is back in Hoover
Hoover started throwing up at 2:30, but was better by morning. Gum color fine. So I switched his appointment to early morning.
The bruising on his hip is just more hyperpigmentation of the skin,
we seen this before, but don't know why. Bad news is a tonsil is
swollen and one lymph node on his neck is slight swollen.
Needle aspirate confirms are fears.
Our appointment has been move up to Tuesday, hopefully Hoover can wait that long. He is out playing now and still is eating. Dr. Jeglum is out of town. Hoover's local vet only got to talk to a tech. I am trying hard to remember that we haven't lost this battle yet.
Looks like I'll have to make the drive by myself. I'll check on motels tomorrow. I'm not going back to work Feb 7 .
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Age 7, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Diet, Supplements
Fri Jan 28, 2000 7:27pm
Total change of plan for Hoover
Thanks for all the wonderful support. It means a lot to me!
Very happy to hear good news from some of you!
Dr. Coston, Hoover's general practitioner has gown impatient.
Dr. Jeglum staff felt Hoover's case was so complex they wanted Dr. Jeglum
to see Hoover personally and would not lets us start treatment sooner.
We also were worried as to when Dr. Jeglum would make back in the States
with political unrest where she is at and bad weather forecast for here.
Very scared that it might snow on tuesday too.
Anyway he found a oncologist that seems to use similar protocols as Dr. Jeglum.
This new doctor didn't feel to highly about Hoover's past treatment.
This I've been learning slowly myself and suspected.
So I canceled the trip to PA for now, but if we can get him in remission, I still want to try monoclonal antibodies on him. Dr. Jeglum staff was very supportive of this decision. We all agree we need to move fast.
Hoover received L-Asparaginase today. We go back Tuesday and go from there. Some of the drugs use in the DMAC rescue protocol were mentioned for the future, but I don't have a copy yet.
Please send prayers our way. The new oncologist feels that Hoover's cancer is now resistant to chemo and that a second remission is always harder. I think he has a 50% chance to succeed because of the length he was on chemo before. I really wish I had found this list earlier and knew about other protocols..
I'm just beat today. I waited all morning for this new plan and then we had trouble finding L-Asparaginase. I ended out driving to C-ville, (1 1/2 hours) UVA Hospital and then driving back for another total 2 hours to get Hoover to the clinic and then 45 mins back home. I'll try to write some of you back soon, but I'm too tired now. Hope this post makes sense.
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Age 7, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Diet, Supplements
Tue Feb 1, 2000 12:47pm
Hoover: one swollen lymph node gone!
Quick note and I will try to get back to some individual post tomorrow.
Since I will be holding off going to Penn. to Dr. Jeglum, I've been rushing
around and went back to work.
,
Hoover had L-Asparaginase Friday and today the lymph node on his neck was no
longer detectable and his one tonsil was less swollen. White count was
good, so he received Actinomycin D ( I think that's how it is spelled my
photo copy of his new rescue protocol is horrible). He currently isn't
suffering side effects, but I'm watching him closing for the upcoming days.
Thanks for everyone's posts! They truly help. I'll write more later.
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Age 7, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Diet, Supplements
...
Thu Feb 3, 2000 12:48pm
So many tears....
Nikki,
I was exactly where you are on January 27, when Hoover came out of
remission. Hoover had been on chemo for eight months - lost most of his
hair and I was heading to Penn. to have Dr. Jeglum look at him with great
hopes of stopping the chemo completely. I never made it up to Dr.
Jeglum's - the cancer came back too soon. We started Hoover on a Rescue
Protocol right away and tonight it looks like the swollen tonsil is just
about gone. Hoover had two treatments! I still have hopes of meeting Dr.
Jeglum and getting Hoover off chemo soon. I was so upset when found out
the cancer was back, but both Hoover and I are back in the fight mode!
I'm sending you both healing thoughts and strength that I can muster.
Candles are lit and good things just have to happen!
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Age 7, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Diet, Supplements
Mon Feb 7, 2000 8:36pm
Hoover
I'm behind on my E-mails and need to spend the evening dividing Hoover's
vitamins. So instead of replying to request on Hoover health
individually I will do a quick update. Thanks for asking, it is wonderful
the support I am receiving.
First a warm welcome to those that are new to the list. I have you in my
prayers!
Hoover has been mildly sick off and on all week. This is different -
usually it is just on the third day after treatment. Last night was bloody
diarrhea - Thank goodness for the Bissell Little Green Carpet Machine and
Innobiz - 10 (Bismith Subsalicylate paste for diarrhea). Tonight a firm
stool and he hasn't needed any other medications for 12 hours. Sometimes
you have to be happy over the small things! Next treatment is Wednesday
night. I'm kind of nervous and will take Friday off. We still don't have a
full remission yet.
Hoover, who is kind of a shy type, turned into a terrier to play with his
rat tonight. I swear he becomes demonic over this rat. His coat looks a
little like a terriers too, since chemo. His full panel thyroid test came
back normal again. I throught for sure this time we would see a low test.
He really looks like a six month old sheltie with a bad thyroid condition.
I'll write and let you know how he handles this part of his rescue protocol
this week-end.
Bless you all.
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Age 7, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Diet, Supplements
Wed Feb 9, 2000 8:07pm
Hoover on hold
Hoover's on hold for his next dose of Rescue Chemo. His white count is
1300. We will retest his blood Sunday night and try again. The remaining
tonsil is less swollen, but we don't have a full remission. He starts
antibiotics again to protect him while his white count is down. Well at
least we didn't bottom him out. His record low was one white cell on a
slide or a white count of a 100!
He is right now playing with his mom and having a great time. It looks like
they are having a contest of who can do the deepest play bow!
Another interesting thing I've notice is that Hoover is very friendly
towards strangers when his white count is down . When he is well, he is
shy. He also chews is carpals when he is well, but hasn't since the cancer
is back. I never thought I would enjoy seeing him nibble at his knees
again.
Bless all of you and may the cancer cells die and good cells multiply.
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Age 7, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Diet, Supplements
Fri Feb 12, 2000 8:45am
Hoover crashed again!
Hoover crashed again! I came home from work and just read a post from
David warning me to watch Hoover's temp and sure enough he was a 104
degrees. Since it was during office hours I rush him to the vet and we did
massive amounts of antibiotics and fluids under the skin. He is back to
normal!
Lynda's post on how to administer fluids under the skin should be filed for
emergencies. This time I did Hoover's fluids while the tech's watched, but
the last time was at 3 am in the morning with a emergency vet couching me
over the phone. I now ask to do all sub-q and muscle injections myself
under their watchful eye during routine visits, so that during an emergency
I feel more confident. They still charge me the same, but I gain the
experience.
Hoover had Actinomycin D February 1. Hoover usually has reactions 3 days
after treatment, this time it was the day after, he than skipped a day and
then had off and on mild diarrhea, lack of appetite and he vomited once.
February 6, he had bad bloody diarrhea and than was normal. His routine
blood work showed a low white count and sure enough we had a crash TEN DAYS
LATER! So be real careful out there and make sure to do your follow up
blood work, no matter how the dog feels or looks! I still hate needles
and such, but I can do it and it really is a good thing to know!
God bless all you pets!
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Age 7, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Diet, Supplements
Sun Feb 13, 2000 9:42pm
Hoover - good and bad
Hoover and I arrived for our 7pm appointment for blood work and more chemo tonight. My GP Vet has Sunday hours. They messed up on the computer so I wasn't listed and they had over booked too. They got Hoover's blood and an hour later Hoover's vet comes out in the waiting room and has the good news that his blood work is back to normal. He looks down his throat and the tonsil has grown. It is not back to its original size, but it is larger than last week. I'm so disappointed. Than to make matter worse he hands me a prescription to fill tomorrow! I have stuff to do all morning and will work in the evening. It isn't always easy to track these drugs down! He needs treatment fast, so I will be really scrambling. I guess I'm just in one of those low moments. I know there is still a lot more to try and the game isn't over yet. Please include us in your prayers.
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Age 7, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Diet, Supplements
Thu Feb 17, 2000 12:45pm
Little side effects - no improvement
Well, Hoover received Melphalan and Dexamethasone on Monday as the third
part of a rescue protocol. (Hoover had been in remission for 8 months and
recently the cancer has come back) He did real well with only having
extreme appetite, water drinking and excessive urinating this time.
Unfortunately the swollen tonsil has not changed or I don't think so. He
usually is real good about letting me look, but his morning he said no way!
Tomorow I will be talking to his Vet to see if we need a new game plan or
should give it another cycle. He crashed on Actinomysin D and had with some
growth of the tonsil too. This rescue protocol starts with Elspar and than
just rotates between the above mentioned drugs. Tomorow I might also try to
reach Dr. Ogilvie, himself and see if he has any new ideas. It won't hurt
to try.
Hoover is still in fine spirits and is doing much better than I. Today I
had the side effects of chemo for him . Thank goodness for Immodium for
people and I'm back to normal too.
Bless you and all your pets!
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Age 7, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Diet, Supplements
Fri Feb 18, 2000 10:29am
Hoover starts Cytosar monday.
Hoover's GP vet just called and we are adding Cytosar to his Actinomysin D
for Monday. I really hope our new oncologist knows what she is doing. I
suspect we should have just done the DMAC protocol from the start. Please
pray this works! If we don't get a remission from this, our next plan is
and I've forgot it's name is the really, really expensive drug. I will do
it if necessary, but money is really running out! We need some luck!
Hope all the cancer fur kids out there have a really good day!
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Age 7, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Diet, Supplements
Mon Feb 21, 2000 1:51pm
Actinomycin D is stocked out
Hoover and I arrive today to do Cytosar and Actinomycin D as part of a
rescue protocol. It turns out there is a manufacturer's stock out on
Actinomycin D. The drugs work best in combination. So tomorrow I go to
Springfield, VA to meet the new oncologist and to do our plan "C", which is
Mitoxantrone. Hoover is still feeling well and played flyball in the
family room Saturday night. The tonsil is about the same. Boy!, I'm worried
that Hoover is running out of drugs. Hope this next treatment is our
"sliver bullet against cancer".
Keep up the prayers for us!
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Age 7, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Diet, Supplements
Tue Feb 22, 2000 1:03pm
Bad Angry News!
In the continuing saga of Hoover, after Monday's bad news that one of
the drugs Hoover was supposed to have was stocked out. My GP vet felt I
needed to head to Southpaws to try Mitoxantrone, since we didn't know when
Actinomycin would be available again. I called and asked for an appointment
and they said they couldn't give me an appointment, but I could drop Hoover
off for treatment. I told them I was driving 2 1/2 hours and would be glad
to camp there until Hoover could be treated. I left a message with my boss
that I wouldn't be in and this morning dark and early, we left. After 1/2
hour wait I was told they couldn't see me or treat my dog. " We don't do
chemo after just 5 days" I was told. I told them he was actually late it
had been 8 days. The rude personal than told me that is not in his records.
I told them this was a misunderstanding and please call my GP vet and I'm
sure we can straitened this out. Then they told me that his blood work
wasn't high enough - it is! Finally they said the Dr. couldn't see me today
and wouldn't treat him until we could schedule a regular appointment. I
told her Hoover is late for treatment, he is not in remission. No go - we
have to go back Thursday. I've wasted two days, most of all the cancer
could get ahead of us any moment and I feel like raging!
I'm beginning to really dislike the whole veterinary profession. I looked
at my bill for Monday and was charged for a CBC (ok), blood collection and
processing (ok), copying records ($5.00 oh-well), telephone charges (ok) and
Chemo Drugs ( what?). I too tired and upset to question this.
To Tammy - Why was Gaithersburg better and do you have their phone number.
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Age 7, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Diet, Supplements
Wed Feb 23, 2000 4:58pm
Consensous on Chemo
Lisa said:
And as far as her current chemo - do most vets continue the chemo once they
> hit remission? Or do they stop? Seems to me, stopping and letting them
> build up their immunity with supplements and alternative medicine (essaic
> tea, pau d'arco, IP6) would be the best approach - as then they could go
back
> to that same chemo agent with the next breakthrough (which is important
for
> us - since our options for rescue are so limited). Or would that only
create
> a "stronger"/more aggressive cancer?
This is the million dollar question I'm trying to figure out! Marina
Zacharia read and faxed my vet a study on this. Her interpretation was that
the dogs treated and then rested lived 3 months longer. My vet said well
perhaps equal. This was just one study on one protocol and I haven't got my
copy yet. I suspect we really need research in this area.
Hoover was to be on a two year protocol and the cancer came back at eight
months, we are having a tough time getting a second remission. David's
Clondike has had ( I think) three remissions and was rested. I really want
to hear Dr. Ogilvie's (Cancer expert) opinion and hope to somehow reach him.
I would love to hear more on this topic.
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Age 7, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Diet, Supplements
Thu Feb 24, 2000 5:19pm
Hoover is T-cell lymphoma
Hoover and I survived are visit to South Paws. I did my best to give them a
chance. I still would have been upset about being turn away for treatment
on Tuesday, but I did find out that with Mitoxantrone you want a really good
white count. Hoover's was OK for normal chemo, but she felt it was not
good enough for Mitoxantrone. This could have been explain to me Tuesday.
The Vet we talked to on Monday that told us to come up was not familiar with
this drug, so that was how the mistake was made.
As reported in an earlier post on this list, there are 3 types of lymphoma,
for the first time I have learned that Hoover has the worst - T-cell. This
type of lymphoma is indeed harder to treat - it is considered a smart
lymphoma, resistance to drugs are its specialty. Life span is much less - 8
to 10 months. Hoover is at 10 months. I also learned that shelties are one
of the worst breeds for reactions to chemo. Hoover's hair loss was not a
surprise to her. So Hoover has done well for a sheltie with T-cell.
She also said dogs in the mid-west do better on chemo and live longer than
dogs on the east coast.(?????) Her only guess was that we have a more toxic
environment. Today we started Mitoxantrone. This is expensive, but has
less chance of vomiting and diarrhea, big danger is dropping the white count
too low. We also are giving antibiotics as a safe measure. If we get a
remission by next week, we will treat every 2 to 3 weeks. Statistics say
this should buy a couple of months only. After that the only chemo left is
CCNU, this is fairly new, drops white count and can cause liver problems,
but mostly in cockers spaniels. The good new is that CCNU is oral. With
T-cell lymphoma remission become harder to get - more than other lymphomas.
So it was an interesting visit, very expensive and not real hopeful. I
waiting hear from my GP vet about his conversation with Gaithersburg, MD
referral clinic. Now that we have the whole game plan, if we get a
remission, I may buy a whole bottle of Mitoxantrone and treat him locally.
If Gaithersburg thinks there is more hope than I will go up there soon.
I do get the impression that Hoover's first internist was really a jerk
with no experience in shelties. This lady did seem a little more
knowledgeable, but not hopeful and perhaps we are at the end of the line. I
hope not.
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Age 7, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Diet, Supplements
Fri Feb 25, 2000 7:12pm
Hoover is T-cell lymphoma
Lynda,
The new oncologist said that CCNU was very new for dogs and that new side
effects would be coming out as it is used more. I asked specifically about
liver, since I remembered your first post on it. She said it was mostly in
cocker spaniels that tend to have liver problems anyway. She also only does
chemo for four months and then rests the dog. She says that her clients'
dogs live about the same length of time as those that are continuous. I
still dislike the clinic but she did seem knowledgeable. I wish she was
more optimistic about Hoover.
Lori and Hoover
Sat Feb 26, 2000 12:09pm
Milk Thistle
>
> > "Despite much of the publicity that has been generated about this
"wonder
> > herb," milk thistle should not be used as a daily food supplement. Milk
> > thistle is a medicine that is best reserved for situations where the
liver is
> > already under abnormal stress.
I wrote Mary about this, I have her book too, and she said that Hoover
should be on continuous Milk thistle since he is being constantly bombarded
with chemo. Most situations it should not be continuous, chemo is one of
the exceptions. Mary L. Wulff-Tilford is on line and will consult for free
with E-mails. Telephone consults are not free. It is great reading the
book and then being to discuss it with her. She did clear up some questions
I had.
An interesting note. My old dogs seem to have new life from her senior
blend. It is given five days a week, two days off.
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Age 7, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Diet, Supplements
Tue Feb 29, 2000 9:09am
TUMERIC
> is anybody giving their furball tumeric..reading up on it after saw it
> mentioned for arthritis ..then saw reference to cancer
> http://www.go-symmetry.com/tumeric.htm
Hoover gets Action Lab's Super Milk Thistle that has tumeric, burdock,
dandelion, cranberry, artichoke, beet and cayenne.
We had another night of Hoover reverse sneezing and gagging. I used
rescue remedy this time and it may have helped. He is back to normal and we
will go tracking today. Hoover will get a small track and a good game of
kill the rat when we are finished.
Lori
Hoover (Sheltie, Age 7, Lymphoma, Dx: 5/99)
Treatment: Radiation, Chemo, Diet, Supplements
I hope to meet Hoover at the river someday as for now he walks with me on
silent paws.
God Speed Hoover!
Lori and sadly just Raz, Caper, Keagan and Sahara the Cat.
