Tristan's Experience With Osteosarcoma & Amputation

[carronstar]

I am so very sorry to hear this news. Too many of us have been there, you are definitely not alone. Tristan is such a gorgeous boy. Love him to pieces, make as many more memories as you can with your beautiful boy.

[Guest patterpaws]

Here are his chest x-rays... waiting to hear back from the vet now. I'm freaking out since I don't know how to read these things. I found this page:

http://www.grassmereanimalhospital.com/radiology.htm

 

and now I'm afraid all those white spots are tumors...?????? Please say no... I sure hope the vet calls soon.

 

My heart is aching for Tristan, and all those who have been lost to this darn cancer.... and all the rest struggling with it now .....poor Anubis, I'm sorry, we have gotten such rotten news at the same time... ugh this is rotten. rotten rotten rotten. I hate it.

 

 

 

[BootsyCollins]

I can't comment on the x-rays. The ones of his legs looked perfectly normal to me, and I'll be damned if I know what lungs are supposed to look like. But I want to extend my sympathies for the pain and confusion and stress you're probably feeling right now. We lost our sweet Argos at the age of 7 to osteo, only a few weeks after his diagnosis. Amputation was not an option for us. If it is for you, you'll find so many people here who can help you through those first days / weeks. And if you decide against amputation, you'll find - again - so many people here who can help you understand medication protocols and pain management. Scritches to Tristan (he is so so beautiful) and hugs to you.

[robinw]

Your posts and photos are bringing back to one year and a month ago, when I found out 11 year old Phoenix had osteo. I'll never forget how numb and nauseous I felt.

 

As others have said, there is no right answer. I chose pain management and let him go 1.5 weeks post diagnosis. Go with your heart and your knowledge and take comfort in knowing that whatever you decide, it is out of love for Tristan.

 

[NeylasMom]

I'm afraid those spots may be mets, although I have absolutely NO training to be able to say one way or the other. It's "funny", I have no training reading x-rays at all, but after studying Neyla's repeated x-rays (of both her healthy shoulder and her osteo shoulder) as well as many of other x-rays on here, I think I've become pretty adept at seeing osteo in the limbs. But lungs, I really don't have much experience. I hope your vet calls soon. How do you have the x-rays yet no call from the vet? That seems kind of cruel.

[Guest patterpaws]

UGH!!!! I called the vet and they said that they sent to x-rays to a specialist to look at, and i won't hear back until this time tomorrow (and its past 5pm!), since they don't have anyone on staff to look at them. I'm going to go nuts waiting that long.

 

 

Group hugs to all the hound owners and hounds out there (both here and at rainbow bridge)... Anubis, Phoenix, Neyla, Argos, Bee Wiseman, Diamond, Sid, Pinky, Twiggy, Joe, Neyla, Hawk, Beecher, and everyone....

 

 

I was going crazy at work, my boss was really nice and let me take off early. Stopped at the pet store on the way back and stocked up on all of Tristan's favorite treats. Gotta spoil my good boy, every minute with him counts.

 

 

Rapidly cycling between angry, sad, desperate, ill, furious, hopeful, depressed.... I still can't believe its happened this fast. Going back to give him more ear skritches now...

[tbhounds]

Fwiw-I think the chest rads look clean--the "spots" look to me like end on vessels--but, please keep in mind I'm on my phone. Fingers crossed.

He's a beautiful boy and he's clearly loved.

Edited to add-was there another view? Usually you take 3 views 2 lateral views (laying on their left side then right side) and a vd (laying on their back). Looked again-still think they look clean-waiting to hear what the pros have to say---keep is posted!!

Edited July 12, 2012 by tbhounds

[45MPHK9]

Stopped at the pet store on the way back and stocked up on all of Tristan's favorite treats. Gotta spoil my good boy,every minute with him counts.

 

Yes, it does.

 

I'm so sorry for what you are going through. Know that we are thinking about all of you.

[JJNg]

From what I can see, I agree with tbhounds and don't see any obvious metastasis in the lungs. But chest x-rays are definitely ones that can be difficult to interpret, and it's best to look at the original films or high resolution digital images. Keeping fingers crossed that the specialist (radiologist?) agrees that the lungs look ok.

[NeylasMom]

And this is why I shouldn't have said anything, even with my disclaimer. I'd believe the resident vet and vet tech over me any day.

[Guest patterpaws]

NeylasMom- I was with you in suspecting the spots... actually I was really freaking out about them since they looked similar to the mottled appearance of other cancerous x-rays I've found... but of course I don't really know what I'm looking at. tbhounds and JJNg, I'm glad you two think differently! I'll try to take a few breaths and wait until I hear word tomorrow.

 

I only received the 3 views, maybe they forgot to send another?

[tbhounds]

NeylasMom- I was with you in suspecting the spots... actually I was really freaking out about them since they looked similar to the mottled appearance of other cancerous x-rays I've found... but of course I don't really know what I'm looking at. tbhounds and JJNg, I'm glad you two think differently! I'll try to take a few breaths and wait until I hear word tomorrow.

 

I only received the 3 views, maybe they forgot to send another?

Looks like they sent you one lateral view and two VD views (one was not a great shot -missed some lung so it looks like they repeated it). Still need to see the other lateral view-hope they took it and sent it to the radiologist.

Holding goods thoughts.

[NeylasMom]

Any news yet?

[NeylasMom]

Still no word? I think I'm as impatient as you must be.

[mom2four]

Hello, like eveyone else says, Tristan is stunning! He reminds me of our Diego.

We have been down the Osteo path too, with our Jamey. He lived 27 months post amputation, and chemo treatment with Doxy (from OSU, they're wonderful!)

 

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it, as I have not read all the posts, but you may also think of joining Circle of Grey, a Yahoo group dedicated exclusively to Greyhounds with cancer. Link

 

Good luck with Tristan!

[krissn333]

I'm no expert but just based on having seen several lung xrays over the years, they look good to me. Looks like maybe he's got a full tummy?

 

Hope you hear soon...

[Guest patterpaws]

We just heard back!!!! the lungs are clear!!!!! We have a surgery scheduled for tomorrow morning already. Consultation is at 9:15 am at the Animal Surgical Center...

http://www.animalsurgical.com/

 

Got to call the oncology dept now to talk with them... and contact Ohio State again. Yikes!

 

This is Tristan's last 4-legged day

[NeylasMom]

for clear lung x-rays! Sending good wishes for a successful surgery. Did you check to make sure the surgical center has Amicar on hand?

[vjgrey]

 

 

This is Tristan's last 4-legged day

 

Hooray for clear lungs!! If you need a pick-me-up regarding Tristan becoming a tripod, there are lots of great videos on Greytalk showing how incredibly, amazingly well these hounds adapt. Dr. Couto at OSU says that they come with three legs, plus one extra, and the videos show that's really true. Charlie, Pinky and Twiggy are some great examples.

[Guest patterpaws]

Hmmm I called back, the receptionist said that they don't have Amicar on hand. Is that something I can pick up over-the-counter at a pharmacy? I'll research it.... She said that I could talk to the surgeon about it at our 9:15am appt.

[KF_in_Georgia]

Long name:Aminocaproic Acid. It's a people med, originally, and I think it's available through hospitals as well as through some pharmacies.

 

If Tristan takes fish oil, don't give him any more, and make sure his surgeon knows he's been taking it. Fish oil acts as a blood thinner. (Fish oil in his food apparently doesn't exist in a large enough capacity to be a problem. Or maybe vets are just used to it being there.)

[tbhounds]

Hmmm I called back, the receptionist said that they don't have Amicar on hand. Is that something I can pick up over-the-counter at a pharmacy? I'll research it.... She said that I could talk to the surgeon about it at our 9:15am appt.

Amicar-500mgs by mouth 3 times a day starting the evening of the surgery-very, very important!

Call around-many pharmacys don't stock the medication. Have your surgeon consult with OSU for conformation. Best of luck!!!!

I can help if you can't find it let me know.

[Guest kkaiser104]

Good luck to you and Tristan for tomorrow's appointment and surgery! Lots of good thoughts coming your way!

[BatterseaBrindl]

[Guest patterpaws]

I'm having so many second doubts. Pouring over the threads here, and scientific studies, and articles and youtube videos and talking to friends and family. I'm so torn. I don't know if we will go ahead with the surgery tomorrow. I want above all else to minimize Tristan's suffering yet also do what I can to extend his life in a high quality fashion. I'm facing such an ethical dilemma- is it right to put an animal through such a procedure, when there's no guarantee of how long he'd survive afterwards, and at what quality of life? On the one hand, he's such a fighter and right now he's so full of life besides his limp. Who am I to cut his life short? On the other hand, his system is so delicate (he gets diarrhea at the drop of a hat), I can imagine his system reacting poorly to such a traumatic procedure. Is it worth it if we only gain another month or so with him? If I knew it would be a year, I think it would be worth it, but there are no guarantees.

 

I cannot bear the thought of only doing radiation/chemo and having him end up dying with a pathological fracture. That is just not acceptable to me, I can't imagine going through that.

 

So that leaves me to ponder, if the surgery ends up feeling like an option we don't want to go with, maybe it would be better to give him a really good week or so with pain meds, and then end things earlier to save him the suffering of deep bone pain and pathological fracture. So torn. I don't know what to do. My husband is as torn as I am, we are just going in circles and circles with trying to decide what to do.