Hello world! Let me introduce you to Rosie

This is my favorite picture of Rosie.

This is the story of Rosie’s road to recovery from cancer.  Rosie is our friendly, furry, four-legged child…..our loving yellow labrador retriever, adopted in December 2008.    Rosie was diagnosed with Mast Cell Tumor Cancer in June 2009, and this is the story of her journey with the newly released doggie chemo drug from Pfizer called Palladia.  Since Palladia is so new, only released to oncologists last month, I wanted to document Rosie’s progress on the drug and hopefully others will benefit from her experience.  We are very excited and thankful that this newly FDA approved canine cancer drug is available.  We hope and pray it is successful.

Mast Cell Tumors, Palladia, Diet, and Side Effects

Why is diet so important for dogs with cancer and specifically for dogs with mast cell tumor cancer (MCT)?  Furthermore, why is diet even more important when a dog with MCT cancer is on Palladia?

I have been researching dog cancer diets and getting information from our veterinary oncologist, and am considering a visit to a local holistic veterinary oncologist.  (At that statement, many owners of dogs with cancer will be appalled that I have not already been to one!  Meanwhile, the non-dog owners, and probably some of my friends and family will roll their eyes and say I have gone way off the deep-end now!  That is ok.  I can take it from both sides.) 

If you have a dog that is recently diagnosed with cancer, I recommend visiting with both a veterinary oncologist and holistic vet.  This method provides both the standard medical treatment plan as well as a holistic treatment plan, including diet.

Be aware that ANY change in what the dog usually eats can cause an upset tummy or diarrhea in a dog.  This is especially a problem for dogs with mast cell tumor cancer because the histamine released by the mast cell tumors can upset the dog’s stomach.   For more information on that, I recommend reading article on the Dog Cancer Blog at http://www.dogcancerblog.com/why-use-stomach-medication-for-mast-cell-tumors/. 

Furthermore, often the treatments, including Prednisone and Palladia, have side effects that can upset the stomach or cause diarrhea or worse.  Palladia’s gastric side effects can potentially be serious which is why often oncologists prescribe supplemental medicines, along with the Palladia, to protect the dog’s stomach.  If the dog has diarrhea, or bloody stool, for example, that would stop the Palladia treatment at least temporarily.  For more information on Palladia side effects see http://www.drugs.com/vet/palladia.html.  Rosie’s oncologist took her off of Prednisone when she started on Palladia.  She stated that both medicine might be too hard on her sensitive stomach. 

I can’t emphasize enough to TALK to your veterinary oncologist BEFORE making any changes to your dog’s diet, especially if you dog is taking Palladia.  Learn from my mistake.  I tried to change Rosie to a premium “grain-free” dog food shortly after starting Palladia and Rosie got diarrhea.  Rosie’s oncologist was not happy with me at the time because she could not tell if the diarrhea was from the food change or from the Palladia.  She had no choice but to stop the Palladia treatment until the diarrhea was under control.  Rosie went several days, almost a week without receiving Palladia.  This was scary to me because I had read online about several dogs whose cancer quickly returned once the Palladia was stopped.   I was given instructions to NOT change her diet until after Rosie was on Palladia for 12 weeks.  Once Rosie went back to her regular food, she did not experience any more diarrhea and has had a successful Palladia treatment to-date.

Now, Rosie’s oncologist has approved for me to SLOWLY change Rosie over to a grain-free diet.  It is important to make any diet change gradually so as to not upset the dog’s digestive system.  If there is diarrhea or bloody stool, the Palladia again would need to be stopped and we would run the risk of the cancer returning.  So I don’t want to risk that because of the diet change.  

Lots of information is available online, sometimes conflicting information about diets for dogs with cancer.  Many people recommend home-cooked meals.  Some recommend raw diets.  Some recommend specific brands of grain-free dog food.  Many recommend additional supplements and enzymes.  This is why I recommend talking to your oncologist and a holistic vet so that, with you, they can provide a specific diet for your dog’s cancer and your situation.

Since I work full-time and Rosie eats 4 small meals a day to prevent stomach upset and diarrhea, home cooking was not very feasible for me.  So I am in the process of gradually changing her over to a natural, premium grain-free dog foood which my veterinary oncologist recommended.  I’m not going to recommend any specific food in this blog.  I urge you to discuss the topic with your oncologist and holistic vet.

Dr. Dressler has some good information on diet on his Dog Cancer blog, www.dogcancerblog.com and more specifically in his book, which has additional information on diets for dogs with cancer.   I have some links on the right side of this blog also with additional information.

Good luck to each of you.

New Pictures of Rosie

Poll Results To Date

I posted the unofficial poll a few weeks ago and left it out there to see how many responses we would receive.  It appears 12 people responded.  Out of the twelve, 9 dogs had Mast Cell Cancer, either grade II or III.  Of the eight people who answered the question would you recommend that a friend look into Palladia, 7 said yes.  That means 4 did not answer the question.  I will assume that they are undecided.

The reponses as to the results and side effects of Palladia seem to be across the board.  Please click on “View Results” under each question to see what I mean.  Also, I think I scared a few people off just by listing the side effects.  That was not my intention.  I probably should have added a question about the severity of the side effects.  While some side effects can be serious, many are mild and do not affect the dog’s comfort level or activity. 

It is still early.  We all hope as the oncologists and vets gain more experience with the drug, it will help many dogs.  I’ll leave the poll up so maybe more people will respond.  Good luck to everyone out there battling this disease.  Our continued thoughts and prayers are with you.

Week 12 Update – Oncologist Visit – Life is Good

Last week Rosie had her 12-week follow-up with her oncologist.   She had a physical exam, bloodwork, tests to check kidney and liver function.  Everything looked great.  The oncologist was very pleased.   Rosie continues her same treatment and we go back for another check-up in another 6-weeks.

With Thanksgiving coming up, we have a lot to be thankful for.  Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are still batting this disease.  We send positive well-wishes for the best possible outcome for you.

Tell Me About Your Dog’s Experience With Palladia

By now you have likely read about Rosie’s positive experience with Palladia.   If not, please read the other posts first.  If you have read comments on my site or on the Dog Cancer Blog Site or other sites, you will see both positive and negative experiences with Palladia.  I thought it would be interesting to summarize others’ experiences.

If your dog is also being treated with Palladia, feel free to participate in this unscientific poll.  Only complete the survey IF your dog is either currently taking Palladia or has taken Palladia in the past.

This is a completely UNscientific, unauthorized, un-everything else poll.  Only the information of those who choose to participate is collected.   I am not associated with Pfizer.   These results are NOT representative of actual studies of Palladia.  

I’m just one dog owner who is curious about the experiences of other dog owners in my similar situation, and thought this would be the quickest method to summarize the information.

 

[polldaddy poll=2181853]

[polldaddy poll=2181957]

[polldaddy poll=2181957]

[polldaddy poll=2181918]

Veterinary Cancer Society Meeting and Palladia

After Palladia was approved this past June, it was difficult to find much information about personal experiences with the drug.  However, veterinary oncologists met at the Veterinary Cancer Society meeting recently in Austin, Texas and some are starting to write about it.  Here’s one vet’s take on the discussion of Palladia treatment and side effects experienced.  Hopefully, we will hear from more vets.  If anyone has received additional information from their oncologist who has attended the meeting, please write a comment to share information with those seeking information regarding mast cell treatment and Palladia.

http://oncodvm.blogspot.com/2009/10/palladia-experience.html

National Cancer Institute – Learning From Dogs

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) published a report stating that studying pet dogs with cancer could help determine how to diagnose and treat cancers in people.  Read more about it here.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091012225543.htm

Rosie’s “New Normal” Life

Rosie is not the only dog that has done well on Palladia.  The Today Show did a follow-up story on Palladia.  It is extremely positive.  In my opinion, I think they should have made people aware of some of the most common possible side effects, but said “Buddy” the featured 10-year-old Golden Retriever did not have any.  Anyone researching Palladia needs to be made aware of these side effects and discuss them with their oncologist.  It is still a good video.  Here’s the link to the Today Show Video.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/33378762#33378762

Rosie is doing great.  However, the definition of “normal” has changed in our house as it relates to Rosie and her treatment.  Her daily routine is 4 small meals a day with medicine before, during, and after each one.  The reason she has the 4 small meals is to make it easier on her stomach while she takes Palladia.  My “normal” evening is now spent fixing several “lunches” for Rosie for the next day. 

Since Rosie has to eat and take medicine 4 times per day, we only leave her at home during the day if one of us can go home for lunch.   On the days we can’t make it home for lunch, either she will stay with a family member or she will go to doggie daycare. 

The oncologist said that since her blood counts were normal that it was o.k. for her to be around the other dogs.  The folks at our doggie daycare, Barks 5th Avenue, http://www.barks5thave.com/, have been great.  Rosie always likes going there.  They love her, give her belly rubs, and feed her and give Rosie her medicine during the day.  We are very grateful to their owner because she is the one who first discovered Rosie’s lump.  It was so tiny at that time, I would not have thought anything of it.  Thank goodness she recommended we take Rosie to the vet.  I don’t know where we would be today if she had not notified us.

I feel like our house has turned into Rosie’s pharmacy.   Rosie takes 6 medicines, counting the Palladia.  The other 5 are to prevent side effects from both the cancer and Palladia.  See post “Week 2 after 2nd Palladia Chemo Dose” http://wp.me/pCrzU-2W for a list of her meds.

Life goes on.  I just received Rosie’s Halloween Costume in the mail.  It is sooooo cute….and she looks cute in it.  However, that will be the topic for another post.  Stay tuned!

Week 8 – What Next?

After learning that the ultrasound and all tests came back normal showing no cancer, we were extremely emotional and greatly relieved.  We had worked so hard to get to that point.  

Since I posted the Week 6 post, many people have visited this blog.   I think that is because there seems to be more bad news than good news posted on the web about MCT and Palladia.   For those people whose dogs have been recently diagnosed and are researching information on Mast Cell Tumors and Palladia, I hope you find this blog helpful and hopeful.   I have posted several links on the side of the blog that include helpful information on various topics.  They are categorized to try to make it easier to find.

Rosie is doing great.  She is her happy go lucky self.  Right now I’m not thinking about treatments. (Yeah!)  Instead I am trying to figure out what to dress Rosie as for Halloween!   All ideas are welcome.  

Our neighbors want Rosie, hubby and I to go with them as they go trick or treating.  I think that will be fun.  We will have to be extremely careful that Rosie does not scarf any candy that might fall on the ground, but there will be enough adults around watching.  I think it will be o.k.

Many people have assumed that treatment stops now that there appears to be no signs of cancer.  No.  That is not true.  Treatment continues, and will continue for the rest of her life to try to prevent recurrences.  It does not guarantee prevention of recurrences, but hopefully it increases the odds that she will remain cancer free.   At this point in time, I don’t believe there are any statistics that show it prevents recurrences, or lengthens a dog’s life.   I’m o.k. with that.  There are no guarantees in life.  Right now everything is good.  We will enjoy the “new normal” life with Rosie.  We take Rosie back to the vet 6 weeks after the last visit for bloodwork and standard tests that used to be done on a weekly basis.  An ultrasound will be done in 3 months.

Right now, our oncologist wants all meds to remain at the same dosage as they were before Week 6.  The medicinations and dosages are listed in the Week 2 posting.   http://rosiesroad.wordpress.com/2009/09/12/week-2-after-2nd-palladia-chemo-dose/.

NOTE:  Do not give your dog any of these medicines or adjust any dosages without discussing with your vet and oncologist first.   These dosages were given by Rosie’s oncologist specifically for Rosie based on her examaination of Rosie, tests, Rosie’s weight, and other factors.   Each dog is different.  All medications and dosages need to be determined by your own vet or oncologist after an examination of your dog.

Pictures of Rosie

Here’s a link to more pictures of Rosie on Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/06cumc_rfl/sets/72157611679693456/show/with/3911792259/