Thomas's Profile

Type of Cancer: Bone Cancer

Medical Term for the Type of Cancer: Osteosarcoma

Diagnosis Date: April 16, 2018

Stage of Cancer: Stage 4

Tumor Size: 0.1 - 1.0 cm

Chemotherapy: Carboplatin (Paraplatin)

What I Hate Most About Cancer: That it is a thief.

What I Have Learned From Cancer: That I am stronger than cancer; it may take my life but it won't take my joy.

Alternative Cancer Treatment: Homemade meals with powerhouse, immunity-boosting, cancer-fighting food. Also Cannabis Oil, Vit C tabs, Maitake mushrooms, phytoplankton, olive oil, coconut oil, ACV, curcumin, Artemix, IP6 tabs.

Cancer Drugs Positives & Negatives: Carboplatin, Doxyrubicin, Cyclophosphamide, Tamoxifen, Toceranib, Piroxicam. After such a long time on the meds, I experience diarrhea and occasional nausea.

Metastasized? Where?: Left side (on top of rib), lung (2 x nodules which eventually increased to 9 nodules). 10 days before I went #OTRB cancer was found growing in another site - my pelvic bone - which became painful and I was gently euthanised.

Cancer Center: Veterinary Specialist Services (VSS) in Jindalee, Brisbane, Australia

Tips for others on how to deal with the physical side effects of chemo/cancer: Be as active as you can. Make memories.

Tips for others on how to deal with the mental struggles of chemo/cancer: Don't second guess the future; be present in today.

End of Treatment Date: July 27, 2018

Has the Cancer Come Back?: Yes. 3 weeks after the first round of 5 x chemo infusions were completed.

Bone Cancer symptoms: Swelling above left carpal, limping. My vet had just lost her dog to osteosarcoma so took no chances - straight in for an xray, which suggested it could be bone cancer, so immediately referred to a Jindalee Vet Oncologist (Dr Terry) who took bone biopsies and did body scan. Scan showed no spread of cancer. Results received 16 April 2018 showed that it was bone cancer; shoulder and leg amputated 17 April 2018. Surgery site became infected, which delayed chemo for a week. Chemo finished 27 July 2018. Unfortunately cancer returned - 3 weeks after chemo finished my Nan found a small lump on top of rib. Scan showed 2 nodules in my lung, too. Lump on side removed surgically (vet said it just "peeled" away, not attached to the rib). Had further chemo infusion (Doxorubicin) which finished 19 October, plus "home" chemo/meds (continuous). Scan while getting Doxorubicin showed lung nodules halved in size. Next scan on 21 December 2018 showed 1 lung nodule the same size, the other nodule had further reduced a little. Still on home chemo/meds. Next scan in February 2019.

Surgery Description, Dates & Side Effects: Left front leg and shoulder amputated on 17 April 2018.

Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side Effects: Carboplatin, Doxorubicin, Cyclophosphamide, Tamoxifen, Toceranib, Piroxicam. No significant side effects to start with but after so many months of home chemo/meds I get diarrhoea and occasional nausea (am on meds to combat). My fur is very slow growing now - months later, surgery sites are still sparsely covered in fur, and I now have bald patches (my paws, muzzle, bottom).