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Category Archive for 'History/OSA diagnosis'

 

Charley celebrated his 4 Year, 7 Month Ampuversary on May 28th!!!   I can’t believe it’s been 1 Year, 7 Months since his OS met was removed!  

 

Charley, you are and will always be our Bone Cancer Warrior, our hero, our inspiration and our miracle man!!!   We love you!  ❤️

 

 

❤️  NEVER GIVE UP HOPE!!!  ❤️

 

Sending lots of positive thoughts and prayers to all of you and your furry babies!

 

Thank you for all of your prayers, positive thoughts, hugs, and kisses.  It is greatly appreciated and we can’t thank you enough for all of your support!

 

  Hugs from me and chocolate Labby kisses from Charley!  xoxo  ♥

 

 

 

 

Charley saw his oncologist, Dr. Buss, this Thursday May 7th and it’s all good news!  Charley’s chest x-rays were clear (no mets) and Dr. Buss said Charley looks great!  YIPPE!!!  That’s a great way to celebrate Joe’s 40th Birthday too!  Charley is a 4-1/2 YEAR Bone Cancer Warrior and it’s been 1-1/2 YEARS since his osteosarcoma met was removed from underneath his amputation scar!  His next met check is scheduled for 8/6/15.

 

Charley also received his Karma Collar that he won in the contest on Facebook in March.  The Karma collar is the “Hendrix” and it looks great on Charley.  Joe thinks he looks like a king wearing it!  Thank you to all who voted to help Charley win it!  Here’s some pictures of Charley rocking his new collar.  

 

❤️  NEVER GIVE UP HOPE!!!  ❤️

 

Sending lots of positive thoughts and prayers to all of you and your furry babies!

 

Thank you for all of your prayers, positive thoughts, hugs, and kisses.  It is greatly appreciated and we can’t thank you enough for all of your support!

 

  Hugs from me and chocolate Labby kisses from Charley!  xoxo  ♥

 

 

 

 

Happy Happy Happy 4 Year, 4 Month Ampuversary Charley!!!  YAY!  YIPPEE!!  WOO HOO!!!  I can’t believe it’s been 16 months since his metastatic OS tumor was removed!

 

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I wanted to thank each of you for making CANINE CANCER WARRIORS a HUGE success again and it has relaunched for the 3rd time!   Shirts and hoodies will be available until tomorrow, March 1st at 10:00pm CST!  So far another 59 have sold and there are still over 24 hours left!

 

A total of 228 shirts and hoodies were sold in the first campaign that ended on February 8!  Another 115 were sold in the campaign that ended yesterday, February 18!  I am truly amazed on how successful CANINE CANCER WARRIORS has been and how much money has been raised for Bone Cancer Dogs, Inc.!

 

Because of each and every one of you,  a total of $5554.00 was raised and directly donated to Bone Cancer Dogs, Inc. and it will go directly toward funding of specific research directed toward canine osteosarcoma!   THANK YOU!   Together we ALL made a difference! ❤️ 

 

If after you receive your shirt or hoodie and you love it and can’t live without another one in a different style or color, just go to the CANINE CANCER WARRIORS campaign and reserve another shirt or hoodie:

http://teespring.com/canine-cancer-warriors-100
❤️ PLEASE SHARE!!! ❤️ 

 

CANINE CANCER WARRIORS was started to honor my Charley (4 Year, 3 Month Bone Cancer Warrior) and all of the Canine Cancer Warriors who are currently fighting the biggest battle of their life and in memory of those who have earned their angel wings!  100% of the profits…yes 100%…will again be donated to help fund canine cancer ongoing trials and research! 1 in 3 dogs will be diagnosed with cancer. 50% of dogs over the age of 10 will die from cancer.

 

I know most of you are dog lovers.  Many of you have had a personal experience with canine cancer or know someone close to you who has.  Dog lovers have lots of doggie lover friends who know other doggie lover friends.  Even if you don’t want to buy a Canine Cancer Warriors shirt, PLEASE SHARE because…Together we can ALL make a difference!  ♥  

 

All of the shirts and hoodies are Charley approved too!

 

Here’s pictures of the front and back of the shirt I designed.  The shirt is available in a short sleeve tee, long sleeve tee, hoodie and a women’s fitted tee and they come in a variety of colors.

 

 

 

front back

 

 

 

 

Never give up hope!  My hope is that one day there is a cure for this dreaded disease….

 

Sending lots of positive thoughts and prayers to all of you and your furry babies!

 

Thank you for all of your prayers, positive thoughts, hugs, and kisses.  It is greatly appreciated and we can’t thank you enough for all of your support!

 

  Hugs from me and chocolate Labby kisses from Charley!  xoxo  ♥

 

 

 

I’m a few days late but Charley’s 47th Month Ampuversary was on 9/28, so Happy Belated Ampuversary!!!   YIPPEE!!!  YAY!!!  WOO HOO!!!   HIPHOP” HOORAY!!!

 

We are getting very close to celebrating 4 years on 10/28/14!  To put 4 years into perspective in Charley’s life, he was 2-1/2 years old when he was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma and he just turned 6-1/2 years old on 9/29.  On his 4th ampuversary, he will have spent 66.6% of his life as a Tripawd fighting cancer and it will be 1 year since having his metastatic OS tumor removed.  Pretty amazing indeed!  I can barely remember him having 4 legs.  This is why Charley is and will always be a Bone Cancer Warrior! 

 

To honor Charley’s AMAZING journey we have a BIG surprise for our boy!  Drum roll please…..

 

When Charley’s OS came back in October 2013, I promised him that I would take him to see the ocean to swim in the waves and run in the sand (living in St. Louis, MO he has never seen the ocean).  My parents, Joe, Charley and I are renting a mini van and driving 13++ hours to Cape San Blas, FL (It’s an inlet about 1 hr or so east of Panama City with the gulf on one side and St. Joe Bay on the other).  We rented a 2 bdrm house directly on the beach.  Cape San Blas is completely dog friendly with no beach restrictions…YAY!  Charley will be running in the powder white sand and swimming in the green blue gulf water!  He already has his own float coat to wear!  I hired a photographer to take sunset beach pictures of Charley and all of us too!  Long story short…it’s a surprise vacation for Charley! 

Charley survivor1

 

Charley LOVES his cow ears!  Every night around 7pm he will start bugging us for one…..if we don’t get him what he wants he will start barking!  Spoiled??  I say so and he deserves to be spoiled rotten!

 

 

Sending lots of positive thoughts and prayers to all of you and your furry babies!

 

Thank you for all of your prayers, positive thoughts, hugs, and kisses.  It is greatly appreciated and we can’t thank you enough for all of your support!

 

  Hugs from me and chocolate Labby kisses from Charley!  xoxo  

 

 

 

I just wanted to share some GREAT news!  Today is Charley’s 3-1/2 Year Ampuversary!!!  YIPPEE!!!  YAY!!!  WOO HOO!!!

 

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY 3-1/2 YEAR AMPUVERSARY CHARLEY!!!

 

It’s been 6 months since his metastatic OS tumor was removed that was underneath his amputation scar.  Charley completed his 6th and final chemo on 3/12 and he’s doing awesome!  We go back to the oncologist on May 15 for a follow-up and chest x-rays.

 

Here are a few pics of my handsome guy from today!  🙂

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Thank you for all of your prayers, positive thoughts, hugs, and kisses.  It is greatly appreciated and we can’t thank you enough for all of your support!

 

  Hugs from me and chocolate Labby kisses from Charley!  xoxo  

 

 

 

Charley had his last and final chemo #6 today!  Dr. Buss, Charley’s oncologist, said that he looks GREAT…and that news made my heart smile!   🙂

 

Charley doesn’t get the chemo pills at the oncologist in case he would get carsick on the way home, instead I take them to go and give it to him after he eats dinner.  I just gave him his Lomustine (CCNU) wrapped in cream cheese….no worries, I wore the blue gloves that his oncologist gave me to protect myself from the chemo that can penetrate bare skin!

 

Charley starts his antibiotics in 5 days and he will take it for 7 days to ward off any potential infection because this chemo lowers his blood counts that he needs to fight infection.

 

Charley doesn’t go back to see Dr. Buss for 2 months.  His next follow-up appointment is scheduled to May 15, 2014 for chest x-rays.

 

March is a BIG month for Charley!  March 28 is his 41st Month Ampuversary….and March 29 is his 6th birthday!  When Charley was diagnosed with osteosarcoma at age 2, we never thought in a million years that he would still be here with us to celebrate birthday #6!  We are so amazed and grateful that he is celebrating his 4th birthday since being diagnosed with cancer!  We’re planning a birthday party in late March for both Charley and my dad, whose birthday is April 1!

 

Stay tuned for some ampuversary and birthday pawty pictures later this month!

 

Here’s some pictures…and a video….from Charley enjoying the 80 degree weather earlier this week!

 

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Thank you for all of your prayers, positive thoughts, hugs, and kisses.  It is greatly appreciated and we can’t thank you enough for all of your support!

 

 

  Hugs from me and chocolate Labby kisses from Charley!  xoxo  

CHARLEY’S OSTEOSARCOMA HISTORY, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

 

Charley started limping at about 20 months old and the limping was on and off for a few days.  We took Charley to the vet after my husband was playing with him and he hugged him around his front legs and he yelped in pain.  We requested x-rays immediately (instead of the recommended course of anti-inflammatory meds and a re-check in 2 weeks).   X-rays revealed a lytic lesion in his left mid-humerus that looked like osteosarcoma except that it was not in the typical location of “away from the elbow and towards the knee”.

 

We were referred to Dr. Buss, an oncologist, and he did a FNA (fine needle aspirate) of the lesion and it was not cancer but rather an aneurysmal bone cyst, which is extremely rare (there are only a few documented cases).  We went back to Dr. Buss every 1-2 months to monitor the aneurysmal cyst, which was resolving on it’s own, when 7 months later Dr. Buss noticed a lytic lesion in his left proximal humerus (same bone at the cyst, but up towards his shoulder) on the x-ray.  Dr. Buss put Charley on antiobiotics for 3 weeks in case it was a bone infection (his humerus bone was already compromised because of the aneursymal cyst and an infection was a possibility) and x-rays showed improvement after week one, but worsening of the lesion after week 3.  Dr. Buss did a bone biopsy of his left proximal humerus because Charley’s history was so atypical.  The histopathology results from Charley’s bone biopsy stated:  “primary malignant neoplasia of bone; most consistent with Poorly Productive Osteogenic Osteosarcoma”.…and so began our unwanted OS journey.

 

Charley was 2-1/2 years old when he was diagnosed with OSA on 10/19/10.  He had his left front leg and left scapula amputated on 10/28/10 followed by 5 rounds of i.v. Carboplatin chemo every 3 weeks apart.  Charley started chemo on day 13 after his amputation, immediately after his staples were removed.  Charley’s blood work after chemo was always fine and he tolerated the Carboplatin chemo well without any side effects.  Charley had follow-up appointments with his oncologist and chest x-rays to check for lung mets every 3 months for the first year after his amputation.  After the first year post-amputation, Charley’s follow-up appointments with his oncologist and chest x-rays moved to every 6 months.

 

Unfortunately, we found out on 10/24/13 that Charley’s OS came back as a met underneath his amputation scar…. almost exactly 3 years to the day after his amputation.  Charley had surgery on 11/8/13 to remove the cancerous mass (and prescapular lymph node) and the surgeon was able to get clear margins around the cancerous mass (1cm at the narrowest margin because the tumor extended down to his Brachial Plexus; and 2cm at the widest margin).

 

The histopathology report from Charley’s cancerous mass  removal stated:  “The mass of the left prescapular incision site most likely represents the recurrance of the the prior primary osseous sarcoma.  The recurrent mass may represent telengiectatic variant of osteosarcoma.  However, morphologically is somewhat more suggestive of hemangiosarcoma suggesting that the prior mass may have indeed been hemangiosarcoma of bone origin.  Margins in relation to the mass were clean in examined sections.  I am also suspicious of local metastasis to the subscapular sinus region of the prescapular lymph node.”

 

Dr. Buss does not think the tumor was a hemangiosarcoma, nor was his original leg tumor.  He believes the tumor that was removed was an osteosarcoma metastasis and specifically, Telangiectatic OS, from his primary OS tumor that was in his proximal humerus (removed in October 2010).

 

Here’s your oncology lesson of the day:

Subclasses of osteosarcomas are determined based on the characterization of the cells as well as the type and amount of matrix present.  Subclasses include osteoblastic, chondroblastic, fibroblastic, poorly differentiated, and telangiectatic osteosarcomas; however, there is no evidence of different biological behavior between the subclasses.

 

Telangiectatic osteosarcoma is an unusual variant of osteosarcoma, forming 3% to 10% of all osteosarcomas.  Radiographically, these tumors appear as purely lytic destructive lesions located in the metaphyses of long bones.  The location and x-ray appearance of telangiectatic osteosarcomas are reminiscent of an aneurysmal bone cyst and can test the acumen of a diagnostic radiologist. Distinguishing between the two entities microscopically can also be quite challenging. Telangiectatic osteosarcoma shows dilated blood-filled spaces lined or traversed by septa containing atypical stromal cells, with or without production of a lacelike osteoid matrix.

 

Because Charley had Carboplatin after his amputation, Carboplatin can not be used again because it will not work anymore because some cancer cells survived after that chemo initially and were dormant before becoming metastatic OS.  Dr. Buss explained that he would attack this metastatic OS with 2 different chemo agents for 2 reasons:  1)  to attack the cancer from 2 different angles; and 2) to minimize the side effects of each chemo.

 

Charley’s chemo was  alternated between i.v. Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) and oral Lomustine (CCNU) every 3 weeks for a total of 6 rounds (Doxorubicin, Lomustine, Doxorubicin, Lomustine, Doxorubicin, Lomustine).  Charley has had 5 of 6 rounds of chemo (11/27/13: Doxorubicin; 12/18/13: Lomustine; 1/9/14: Doxorubicin; 1/29/14: Lomustine; 2/19/14: Doxorubicin).  His next and FINAL chemo #6 is Lomustine and is scheduled for 3/12/14.

 

Charley did take Cerenia (anti-nausea) starting on day 2 after the Doxorubicin for 4 days since the Doxo is harder on the GI system and GI side effects are the worst from days 3-5.   Lomustine is an oral chemo that is also referred to as CCNU.  It is commonly used to treat some cancers of the brain (it can cross the blood-brain barrier), lymphoma, mast cell tumors, and non-resectable soft tissue sarcomas.  Because Lomustine has a greater impact on myelosuppression (a condition in which bone marrow activity is decreased, resulting in fewer red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.), Charley starts antibiotics (cefpodoxine 200mg) on day 5 after chemo for 7 days to prevent an infection because of low white blood cell count (leukopenia).   Charley had his blood work done between 7-10 days (at nadir) after his first 4 rounds of chemo as well as a liver profile after his first 2 rounds of Lomustine (since Lomustine can impact liver function) and all has been fine.  Charley does not need to have blood work after his last 2 chemo rounds per Dr. Buss.

 

Charley is now 5-3/4 years old and he will celebrate his 40 Month Ampuversary on 2-28-14 and his 6th Birthday on 3/29/14…so he has lived over 1/2 of his life as a Tripawd and with OS, so miracles can and do happen!

 

 

CHARLEY’S PROTOCOL (3+ Year OS Warrior)

 

My goal with Charley’s protocol is to accomplish 2 things:  1) to support and strengthen his immune system in order to fight the cancer; and 2) to kill any rogue cancer cells by apoptosis; which will in turn give him a better quality of life and hopefully a much better quantity of life!  🙂

 

Here is my disclaimer about Charley’s protocol:
Every dog is different and no two cancers act exactly the same (even when comparing OS to OS, lymphoma to lymphoma, etc.).  I still tweak Charley’s protocol and nothing is written in stone.  Some pups tolerate lots of supplements without any issues and others don’t….too many supplements are not always a good thing in my opinion.  You have to do what works for you, your dog (or kitty), your family, your finances, etc.  Most importantly is to always remember to NEVER GIVE UP HOPE!!!

 

Since Charley’s OS returned this past October, I’ve added in Immunity4Pets and I’m back to giving the artemisinin/Artemix/Butyrex or artemisinin/artemether/Butyrex on a daily basis.  I’ve also moved his vitamin C and vitamin E from breakfast to lunch because you can’t give vitamin C within 2 hours of the Immunity4Pets.  I’ve also doubled his K9 Immunity Plus Chews to 4 chews per day.

 

Charley’s Protocol (68 pound, 5-3/4-year-old male neutered Lab):

 

Charley eats Orijen Six Fish kibble 3x day and we give Charley bottled water, not tap water because of the fluoride.

 

Breakfast: 7:00am
-20mg generic pepcid about 20 minutes before breakfast
-Orijen Six Fish Kibble 3/4c

-Immunity4Pets: 4 tsp sprinkled on food; dosing on container by weight (immunity4pets.com)
-Berte’s Green Blend (b-naturals.com); dosing on container by weight
-(2) K9 Immunity Plus Chews (iHerb.com)

 

Lunch: between 12-2pm
-Orijen Six Fish Kibble 1/2c
–Berte’s Ultra Probiotics (b-naturals.com); dosing on container by weight

-500mg of Vitamin C (Esther C)*
-400iu of Vitamin E*
-(2) 1000mg of fish oil
-(2) K9 Immunity Plus Chews

*Vitamin C and E are given daily to help flush the system so you can give the artemisinin/Artemix on a daily basis.

 

Dinner: between 5:30-6:00pm
-20mg generic pepcid about 20 minutes before dinner
-Orijen Six Fish Kibble 1/2c
-(2) 1000mg of fish oil

 

4-5 hours after dinner (between 10:30-11:00pm)
-Charley gets artemisinin (Holleypharma.com) daily with or without Artemix/artemether (Hepalin.com) wrapped in Philly Cream Cheese
-200-300mg of artemisinin along with 4 Butyrex* (pureformulas.com); when I add in Artemix or artemether I give him 1-2 caps for a total of 40-80mg of artemether

 

*Butyrex enhances the effect of the artemisinin/Artemix.

 

**Charley does not tolerate the fish oil at the 6500mg range and he gets the runs (based on the recommendations for cancer of 1000mg per 10 pounds), so he gets 4000mg/day.

 

 

I am one of the moderators on the artemisinin_and_cancer Yahoo group.  If you want more info about dosing the artes (including Artemix/artemther which is toxic at high doses), please consider joining the arte group.

 

 

 

Thank you for all of your prayers, positive thoughts, hugs, and kisses.  It is greatly appreciated and we can’t thank you enough for all of your support!

 

 

  Hugs from me and chocolate Labby kisses from Charley!  xoxo 

 

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Charley had chemo #5 today, 2/19/14, which was Doxorubicin (Adriamycin).  This was his 3rd Doxorubicin so he is now finished with this chemo agent!  YIPPEE!!!  Charley will start on the Cerenia for anti-nausea tomorrow and will take it for 4 days (nausea from the Doxo typically hits days 3-5).

 

Since Charley’s last 4 bloodworks and his 2 liver profiles have been fine (he had bloodwork done after his 1st and 2nd Doxo and his 1st and 2nd Lomustine), he does not need any more bloodwork after this chemo or after his next chemo.  YIPPEE  again!!!

 

Charley has his last and final chemo on 3/12/14 which will be Lomustine (CCNU) which is an oral chemo pill and then he will be officially done with chemo!  Another YIPPEE!!!  I asked when Charley would need chest x-rays and Dr. Buss said we would most likely do it 1-2 months after his next chemo!

 

Dr. Buss, his oncologist, said and I quote, “Charley looks GREAT!!!”  That made my week again!  I told Dr. Buss that Charley will be 6 on 3/29/14…and that would be his 4th birthday since his OS diagnosis which is amazing!  Dr. Buss agreed that Charley is indeed amazing!  🙂

 

Charley LOVES the snow (but it has all melted now), so here are some recent snow pics!

 

I love the wavy fur along his back.  🙂

Charley 2.5.14

 

Wanna play??

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One of my favorite all time pics…look at that happy smile!

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Cheese!

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Hi there! 

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Snow face!

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My little chocolate Valentine!

Charley Valentine

 

Thank you for all of your prayers, positive thoughts, hugs, and kisses.  It is greatly appreciated and we can’t thank you enough for all of your support!

 

  Hugs from me and chocolate Labby kisses from Charley!  xoxo  ♥

Charley had chemo #4 on 1/29/14 which was Lomustine, an oral chemo pill also known as CCNU.  Charley is now 2/3 of the way through chemo!  Dr. Buss, his oncologist, said and I quote, “Charley looks great!”.  Boy did that make my day!  Charley had his bloodwork and a liver profile done on 2/5/14 and everything looks good.  His next chemo #5 is Doxorubicin which is scheduled for 2/19/14.  Charley’s 1st Doxorubicin chemo hit him a bit hard, but he sailed through his 2nd without any issues so we are hoping that #3 goes smoothly as well!

 

Last Sunday was Superbowl Sunday and my birthday, so Charley and I were sporting our Peyton Manning jerseys and cheering on the Broncos together.  Even though I was bummed about the Broncos, I couldn’t complain too much.  I had the best birthday ever with Charley by my side!  He is doing great with only 2 chemos to go and he is absolutely the BEST birthday present ever!!!  I would have never thought when he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma that he would be celebrating with me on my special day almost 40 months later!

 

Shhh…don’t tell Charley that he’s wearing a girls XL!

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 Charley looks like a linebacker in this one!

Charley Broncos

 We traded jerseys, so here’s Charley and his mommy!

Charley & me

…and another of Charley and me!

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….and another!

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I love this one!

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Thank you for all of your prayers, positive thoughts, hugs, and kisses.  It is greatly appreciated and we can’t thank you enough for all of your support!

 

  Hugs from me and chocolate Labby kisses from Charley!  xoxo 

Just wanted to share some great news!  Today is Charley’s 39th Month Ampuversary!!!   YIPPEE!!!  YAY!!!  WOO HOO!!!

 

Tomorrow Charley has chemo #4 (Lomustine aka CCNU) of 6, so we are getting towards the end!  Charley tolerated his last chemo Doxorubicin without any side effects this time which was a big relief (the first Doxorubicin hit him pretty hard).  Charley’s most recent (and 3rd) blood work on 1/16/14 was fine, which hopefully means he won’t need any more during the rest of his chemo.

 

Charley has been his happy Labby self.  He loves the snow!!!   He’s been doing zoomies around the great room and he’s always counter surfing and begging for food!

 

This is one of my favorite pics!  Look at those eyes!

Charley 11.28.13

 

Snow zoomies!!!!!!!!!

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Thank you for all of your prayers, positive thoughts, hugs, and kisses.  It is greatly appreciated and we can’t thank you enough for all of your support!

 

  Hugs from me and chocolate Labby kisses from Charley!  xoxo 

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