Caninecancer.org.au

All the best - and let us know how you're both getting on

Thanks beachmutt.

Dr Ken, yes it's Pete Laverty doing the surgery and everything I've heard and read says he is an excellent surgeon. So I'm glad Maxie will be in good hands on Monday.

Well Maxie's surgery went ok today. I'll pick him up either tomorrow or Wednesday.

As expected, the surgeon had to remove a lot of tissue. This left a large hole in the abdominal wall which had to be replaced with mesh. I understand the risk of complications is low, but I've read about the complications that the mesh can cause and it worries me.

The pathology results should be back by Friday.

Fingers crossed for Friday. Laverty IS one of Australia's best so everything will go as well as it possibly can.

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Dr Ken Wyatt BSc BVMS FANZCVS
Specialist Veterinary Oncologist
Perth Veterinary Oncology

Maxie came home on Thursday, and he is doing really well.

Pete explained it was a difficult operation - a lot of tissue to remove, made more difficult because the tumour had been removed previously so he had to use the CT scan as a guide, and reconstructing the abdominal wall - he was able to use SIS for this. So considering all this, I think he's done a pretty amazing job.

And best news is the pathology results came back clear so fingers crossed that is the last we see of the sarcoma!

Maxie is healing nicely so far. Bruising and swelling are subsiding and the incision is looking good. He's had some good pain relief, and he is eating, drinking and toileting normally. We're going back next week to get the stitches removed.

Excellent! Awesome result. I am VERY happy for you!

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Dr Ken Wyatt BSc BVMS FANZCVS
Specialist Veterinary Oncologist
Perth Veterinary Oncology

Great news Kayla, I have been watching this thread. Always nice to hear a good outcome especially when dealing with cancer.

I think the fact you went to a specialist centre would be a big factor in a good outcome. Not all dogs are so lucky.

I hear so many stories (even more since the website launched) that would have likely had better outcomes had the owners gone to a specialist. Specialists dont start treatments or suggest things on an "educated guess." Trust me this happens. I have an inbox that has been inundated with such stories not to mention other forums I frequent. A Specialist waits until all results that are needed are in and then do a plan on an individual basis. Of course it helps they have had years of training in just cancer. Horses for courses and this is an important message it would seem is not always getting through to owners. ALWAYS get pathology and use an oncologist if you want your dog to have the best chance it can when fighting cancer.

Keep us posted of any further updates
Lisa

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1. Sending tumours to the lab saves lives
2. Pet insurance allows you to give your dog the best treatments available
3. Using an oncologist gives your dog the best chance of survival.

Maxie had his stitches out today. Pete is very happy with his progress and said he is healing remarkably well!!

Thanks Lisa. I am so glad I went to a specialist. Though I think if I was ever faced with an unusual lump again then I'd go straight to a specialist much sooner and get a biopsy done before removal. That would have helped in Maxie's case anyway.

Thanks Dr Ken for all your comments. Just a couple more questions. If by chance the sarcoma grew back, I guess it would be in the same location? I know it's unlikely given the results are clear, but I'll keep checking nevertheless. Also I've been thinking about how the sarcoma wasn't picked up with the FNA. I understand what you said earlier about having little to work with, but I was wondering if soft tissue sarcomas in particular are difficult to diagnose this way?

Hi Kayla

Great news that all is going so well. You will always get the best advice using an oncologist and this message is not getting through to a lot of people. So many years of study and experience only treating cancer patients. I was lucky as well. I got Dr Ken for Frodo and here he is still with me 4.5 years later. I would bet everything I own he would not be had I just used my local vet with the type of cancer he had. Consider pushing the use of oncologists with people you know so dogs everywhere get the best treatments they can. Some of the stories I have heard where dogs have not got the best would amaze you and its frustrating.

Keep us posted. Dr Ken can answer the medical question as he's the expert I just put the site together and get the technical harassment when the program keeps going haywire hehe

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1. Sending tumours to the lab saves lives
2. Pet insurance allows you to give your dog the best treatments available
3. Using an oncologist gives your dog the best chance of survival.

FNA is a suction technique, so the pathologist only sees what is sucked into the syringe and as individual cells. Some cancers are too sticky to be sucked up very much, and some only look cancerous BY THEIR GROUP BEHAVIOUR rather than visual appearance of any one cell. Soft tissue sarcomas are often not diagnosed by FNA for both these reasons. FNA is most useful when it is answering a specific question. For example, "is their inflammation" or "are the lymphocytes (possible lymphoma) or mast cells (possible mast cell tumour) present. Not so good for "I wonder what this lump might be!" Therefore, to use it wisely, there must be a list of possibilities constructed first, and then the appropriate tests to rule these in or out is detailed.

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Dr Ken Wyatt BSc BVMS FANZCVS
Specialist Veterinary Oncologist
Perth Veterinary Oncology