Caninecancer.org.au

I'd also like to share my success story, My 11.5 year old Labrador had her ruptured spleen removed July 2012, diagnosed hemangiosarcoma, (but with no obvious spread -except the rupture), and was given 4-6 months even with chemo.
We started the chemo as soon as we could after surgery and 17 months later she is still a really well dog!! Have had to drop a couple of her drugs because of medical complications, but is still on a daily chemo plus other meds.
She really has had no side effects at all, a few vomits here and there, occasional poor appetite, slow hair regrowth (though now she has a super luxurious coat!) but on the whole is a happy, active 'normal' aging lab!
My vets often use her as the positive story to chemo treatment!!

Thanks for sharing that. It is nice to hear another success story. I hope you get many more years with your dog.

It is important to hear some positive stories on treatments as you often hear how bad chemo is. I think what happens is often dogs may not be treated with the right chemos for the cancer they have. In talking to owners most seem unaware that there are so many different cancers all requiring different treatments. This might be part of the cause of some of the bad stories on chemo you hear. When you use oncologists due to the years of extra study in cancer they know the best course of action should an adverse affect occur.

Four years after Frodos treatment I asked what his chances were at the time of diagnosis (something until that point I was too afraid to ask) Based on all the medical data it was at 30%. Hopefully we will hear more stories like this.

Thanks again for sharing

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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.

Agree, need people to hear more 'good' result stories!!
I work in a vet hospital that see's a lot of cancer patients, and to be honest most do really well with their chemo, but like anything, people talk more about the negatives.
I must admit I have never seen a dog undergo treatment without an onco report, so have never heard of dog being treated with the 'wrong' chemo though.

Perhaps you work for one of our fine oncologists?

I know of countless stories wherein the local vets do the treatments. I think what some people fail to understand is that the treatments they will get with an oncologist are going to be of a higher standard. Would we as humans let the GP treat us for cancer or would we go to a specialist?

I have personally been involved in a situation where a local vet would not refer on the basis that the oncologist would not see the dog until the local vet had done their thing and made a diagnosis. It took a huge battle to get that referral let me tell you. I also come across many people who have no idea we have specialist vets. This is of course in Perth so it may well be different elsewhere. I think it is important people at least know their options so their dogs can get the best treatments available should they choose that course of action.

If you know of any success stories please ask people to let everyone know. Chemotherapy if used properly is not as bad for animals as it is for people. This perception people have needs changing. Frodo had no side effects and it was hard to slow him down.

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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.

No, I work for a specialist surgeon. We did her original surgery but as we don't do 'medicine' she was handed over to a general practice for workup/ treatment.