Guest juliagulia630 Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 We need some advice. We were asked to make some decisions and let OSU know this week regarding James' chemo options. We were all ready to start last week but the oncologist was worried that his suture looked too infected to start. The course of last week has raised some questions in our minds. It was frustrating that we drove 5 hours round trip to come back with antibiotics we could of gotten at our local vet and that James' chemo was being delayed (rightly so). I know nothing is garaunteed with this, which is the worst part. We could drive down for chemo in 2 weeks and his WBC might be too low and they would have to delay again. I would love to give him the best shot and do to suramin and doxorubicin but I am not sure I can coordinate all the pieces in our lives to get that done. There is an oncology center 1 hour from here but I am worried to trust anyone else especially with the doxorubicin since I have heard so many horror stories. Can anyone shed some light? I know the decision rests with us but I respect anyone's opinion who has gone through this! Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 Can't really help you with the chemo part. Anyone can do a blood draw, tho. If your vet doesn't have an in-house analyzer (for the blood values you need to check), maybe he/she could refer you to another local vet who does? In-house analyzer would get you same-day (same-hour, really) turnaround. Check your WBC and anything else needed the day before your appointment so you know whether you're good to go ...... Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 (edited) I would have your local vet run a CBC and a manual platelet count 2 days before your scheduled trip to OSU. Personally, I feel you have gone this far you should give your boy the best there is to offer-- that being the chemo OSU is offering. . Forgot to add-- once you receive the CBC results fax it to OSU to the Drs attention. Are you working with Dr Utie? Edited March 21, 2011 by tbhounds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greysmom Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 Have you asked OSU if there is a reputable hospital nearer to you that they would recommend? The place where Dude gets his isn't a cancer center specifically, but a 24/7/365 full service emergency and surgery hospital. There are lots of different specialists that work there from oncology to eye doctors to ortho. Someplace closer would be better all the way around I think. Dude goes in at 7:30 in the morning and he's done by mid-afternoon and ready to come home. That's 10 hours (there and back twice) every chemo day if you're not going to leave him overnight. And the second trip would be with a possibly sick-to-his-stomach dog in the back. Are you getting the free chemo drugs from OSU? Do they have the doxorubicin back in stock (they had to ship us the gabepentin because they were out of doxo)? I know it can be difficult and dangerous to deal with, but any professional oncologist and staff should be able to safely administer it. Obviously, there's a high level of confidence when you're dealing with OSU and getting treatment there. I guess you just need to weigh that confidence against a really long car ride every three weeks. Quote Chris - Mom to: Felicity (DeLand), and Andi (Braska Pandora) siggy by Chris Harper, on Flickr Angels: Libby (Everlast), Dorie (Dog Gone Holly), Dude (TNJ VooDoo), Copper (Kid's Copper), Cash (GSI Payncash), Toni (LPH Cry Baby), Whiskey (KT's Phys Ed), Atom, Lilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MorganKonaAlex Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 My Alex had doxorubicin and I've had it myself. An oncology center will be well versed on the protocol for handling it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2four Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 Hello, our Jamey went to the 24/7 emergency clinic here for his amp and chemo. He saw the oncologist there, but it is not a specialty oncology only clinic. So I would agree, is there a clinic that could do his blood work a couple of days in advance? That might be your best bet. Just FYI, Greys that get an infection after their amp tend to live longer for some reason. Our Jamey had a big infection 2 weeks post amp, and he is still with us, 21 months later. His cancer is back, but he is still doing well. Good luck to James! Quote Tin and Michael and Lucas, Picasso, Hero, Oasis, Galina, Neizan, Enzo, Salvo and Noor the Galgos. Remembering Bridge Angel Greyhounds: Tosca, Jamey, Master, Diego, and Ambi; plus Angel Galgos Jules, Marco and Baltasar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP_the4pack Posted March 21, 2011 Share Posted March 21, 2011 The instructions that OSU gives to the doctor is painfully detailed. My regular vet (just the GP) gave the doxy to Diamond and Pearl. Ask your vets if they would feel comfortable doing it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joejoesmom Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 My suggestion is to have a local vet do the CBC and fax/email the results to OSU. Then go to OSU so you can get the Suramin. I know this makes for a very long day (2 1/2 hours there, wait a bit to get admitted, suramin infusion, wait 4 hours, doxo infusion, wait a bit to get released, then back home), but I really liked the potential benefits of having the suramin. If suramin is not a big deal to you, by all means, have your local vet do the doxo. If you feel the need to have a check-up at OSU, that is easy enough to do. FYI, most dogs are not nauseous immediately after chemo. If they get queasy at all, it is usually 24 to 72 hours after the chemo. Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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