If you really want to do chemo read this

"While Lucy is still doing OK, if the natural protocol she is on might no longer is work (it's been working over 3 years at this point) I still have to consider and research what still might be on the table for quality of life. I don't like chemotherapy or radiation(hate it more) but never say never till you are there. I felt I should put in the blog items on chemo and other stuff that I come across. The below has pros and cons. But either way, if you use chemotherapy you MUST use supporting supplements and herbs or the cancer will come back worse." Gary

Aust Vet J. 2004 Nov;82(11):676-80.

Treatment of eight dogs with nasal tumours with alternating doses of doxorubicin and carboplatin in conjunction with oral piroxicam.

Langova V¹, Mutsaers AJ, Phillips B, Straw R.

Author information

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the efficacy and toxicity of chemotherapy in the treatment of canine nasal tumours.

DESIGN:

Retrospective clinical study

PROCEDURE:

Eight dogs with histologically confirmed nasal tumours were staged by means of complete blood count, serum biochemical analysis, cytological analysis of fine needle aspirate of the regional lymph nodes, thoracic radiographs and computed tomography scan of the nasal cavity. All dogs were treated with alternating doses of doxorubicin, carboplatin and oral piroxicam. All dogs were monitored for side effects of chemotherapy and evaluated for response to treatment by computed tomography scan of the nasal cavity after the first four treatments.

RESULTS:

Complete remission was achieved in four dogs, partial remission occurred in two dogs and two had stable disease on the basis of computed tomography evaluation. There was resolution of clinical signs after one to two doses of chemotherapy in all dogs.

CONCLUSIONS:

This chemotherapy protocol was efficacious and well tolerated in this series of eight cases of canine nasal tumours.

J Vet Intern Med. 2004 Jul-Aug;18(4):540-4.

Alternating carboplatin and doxorubicin as adjunctive chemotherapy to amputation or limb-sparing surgery in the treatment of appendicular osteosarcoma in dogs.

Kent MS¹, Strom A, London CA, Seguin B.

Author information

Abstract

Thirty-two dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma treated by amputation or limb sparing had adjuvant chemotherapy of alternating doses of carboplatin (300 mg/m2 IV) and doxorubicin (30 mg/m2 IV) every 21 days for a total of 3 cycles. Efficacy, toxicity, and previously identified prognostic factors for osteosarcoma were evaluated. The median progression free survival was 227 days (range 180-274), and the median overall survival was 320 days (range 153-487). The 1-year survival rate was 48%, and the 2-year survival rate was 18%. Age, sex, surgical procedure, and alkaline phosphatase activity above the reference ranges were not prognostic for survival. There was minimal toxicity associated with the chemotherapy. This protocol could be useful for the adjuvant treatment of appendicular osteosarcoma of dogs.

PMID:

 

15320595

 

[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Commonly Used Chemotherapy Drugs

Doxorubicin (Adriamycin®) – Administered by IV every 2-3 weeks; side effects include those listed above and potential damage to the heart muscle. We recommend performing a heart function exam (echocardiogram) in some dogs before starting this drug. Less than 10% of all pets develop heart problems with this drug.

ADRIAMYCIN (doxorubicin) Please discuss all information with your vet
Adriamycin (doxorubicin) is a broad spectrum chemotherapy drug used to fight many forms of cancer and has been used for decades. Adriamycin is an orange-red liquid, which is diluted and painlessly administered directly into a vein. The slow intravenous administration of Adriamycin usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes. The patient lies quietly on a padded table during administration and rarely needs any form of sedation.
The dose is calculated by a measurement called Body Surface Area, which your veterinarian can calculate based on your dog's weight. Baseline complete blood count should be done before the first administration of adriamycin. You should also check with your vet about testing for kidney function and liver function. Your vet may also prescribe medicine to administer for nausea, vomiting or diarrhea which can occur (see below).
Please note: One of the major side effects of adriamycin is the potential to affect heart function. When it occurs, it usually develops after several doses. Breeds that are prone to having underlying heart conditions, dogs with a large heart on xray and dogs with a previous history of heartworm infection should have baseline EKG (heart rhythm tracing) and possibly echocardiograms (heart ultrasound) before receiving adriamycin. This is not mandatory for every dog but needs to be discussed with your veterinarian and oncologist.
Other side effects:
Hair loss: Pets rarely lose their hair, and if they do, they are not bothered by it as much as people are. In most pet animals, hair does not grow continually though out their lives like it does in people. Therefore, hair loss in pets is rare. Exceptions are certain breeds of dogs, such as poodles, Old English Sheepdogs and other breeds whose hair grows continually. In general, if your pet needs to visit a groomer periodically to be clipped, then your pet may experience some degree of hair loss as a result of chemotherapy. Cats may, however, lose all or most of their whiskers. Please ask your pet's doctor about the possibility of hair loss in your pet.
Reduction in the Number of White Blood Cells (Neutropenia): There are various types of cells in the blood. The decrease in the number of infection-fighting white blood cells is known as neutropenia. Many chemotherapeutic agents impair the bone marrow's ability to produce cells. As a result, neutropenia may occur seven to ten days after chemotherapy. Neutropenia, alone, is not a danger to your pet. However, your pet's ability to fight off infection is impaired by neutropenia. Therefore, prior to each chemotherapy treatment, your pet should have a blood test performed called a complete blood count (CBC). Should your pet have a significant reduction in the number of white blood cells, your veterinarian may wish to perform periodic blood tests, and/or prescribe antibiotics to protect your pet from infection.
Stomach or Intestinal (Gastrointestinal) Discomfort: Many patients experience some form of stomach or intestinal discomfort two or seven days after a chemotherapy treatment. Your veterinarian will prescribe medication to try to prevent or treat the discomfort. Below are listed some steps you can take at home.

Tissue damage: If Adriamycin is accidentally given outside the vein, severe tissue reactions can result, leading to tissue destruction. Therefore, Adriamycin is handled with the utmost care, and should only be administered by highly trained professionals. Secure intravenous access is paramount. If irritation of the injection site develops in the form of pain, swelling or redness, apply ice packs for 15 minutes every three hours. Call your veterinarian as soon as possible, and certainly if the condition persists for more than 24 hours.
Allergic Reactions: Allergic reaction to chemotherapeutic agents is rare, and not a problem you will have to treat at home. Should your pet have an allergic reaction to Adriamycin, it would develop upon administration, and your veterinarian and the hospital staff are trained to treat patients for allergic reaction.
Heart Damage: Adriamycin, in some rare cases, can irreversibly damage the heart muscle. The dose of Adriamycin prescribed for your pet is below the dose that usually causes heart disease. Less than 10% of patients develop heart disease as a result of Adriamycin chemotherapy. Your veterinarian will discontinue the use of Adrimycin if heart disease is detected at any time.

Find out from your oncologist what can be done to minimize the risk of heart toxicity. Ask about the use of Co Enzyme Q-10 to protect against heart disease from adriamycin. There is also a medication called Zinecard (dexrazoxane) which is used in humans to prevent toxicity from adriamycin. Ask your oncologist if your dog is a candidate for this medication if available.

Carboplatin (Paraplatin®) – Administered by IV every 3-4 weeks; side effects can include those listed above, but this drug is generally easier on the stomach and intestines.

Platinum compounds, such as carboplatin, are some of the newest agents being used in cancer therapy. They have been used with success in many types of human cancer. Although the use of these agents in animals is relatively new, they have shown promise in a variety of tumors. Carboplatin is a clear agent that is painlessly administered directly into the vein over 15-20 minutes. The patient lies quietly on a padded table during administration and rarely needs any form of sedation.

POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS OF CARBOPLATIN:
Reduction in the Number of White Blood Cells (Neutropenia). There are various types of cells in the blood. The decrease in the number of infection fighting white blood cells is known as neutropenia. Many chemotherapeutic agents impair the bone marrow's ability to produce cells. As a result, neutropenia may occur between 10 to 21 days after chemotherapy. Neutropenia alone is not a danger to your pet. However, your pet's ability to fight off infection is impaired by neutropenia. Therefore, prior to each carboplatin treatment, your pet will get a blood test called a Complete Blood Count (CBC). Should your pet have a significant reduction in the number of white blood cells, your veterinarian may wish to perform periodic blood tests, and/or prescribe antibiotics to protect your pet from infection.
Stomach or Intestinal (Gastrointestinal) Discomfort. Many patients experience some form of stomach or intestinal discomfort two to seven days after a chemotherapy treatment. Your veterinarian will prescribe medication to try to prevent or treat the discomfort. Some veterinarians recommend giving the medication even if there are no overt signs of discomfort. Please discuss this with your vet.  

Piroxicam (Feldene®) – Administered by mouth daily. This is simply a COX-2 inhibitor like Advil/Ibuprofen but made for dogs. Dogs cannot take Ibuprofen, that is toxic to dogs.  This drug can cause ulcers in the stomach or intestine. Notify your pet’s clinician if you observe loss of appetite, vomiting, or dark/tarlike stools, which could be a sign of digested blood from an ulcer. (I USE MELOXICAM IT HAS SOMEWHAT LESS SIDE EFFECTS AND I ALWAYS USE IT WITH PEPCID OR TAGAMET)

Piroxicam, a COX‐2‐inhibiting NSAID, is a potential antiangiogenic agent since it inhibits PGE2, which has proangiogenic effects. Some tumors will up‐regulate COX‐2 enzymes resulting in increases in growth factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Piroxicam is the most well studied NSAID, however, additional NSAIDs are currently undergoing evaluation in cancers such as transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. The dose of piroxicam is 0.3 mg/kg daily to every other day. 

What sort of side effects may my pet have with chemotherapy?
The highest quality of life for your pet is our goal, but to be effective in controlling a devastating disease like cancer, chemotherapy drugs are very powerful. Fortunately, pets don’t have as many side effects as humans going through chemotherapy do. Hair loss (alopecia), common in humans but rare in dogs. It is seen mainly with breeds that have constantly growing hair (poodle, shih tzu, cocker spaniel, etc.). Cats generally do not lose body hair, but often lose their whiskers. Chemotherapy will slow the re-growth of hair in all pets receiving chemotherapy so grooming should be adjusted accordingly. Other potential side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea - most of which are easily controlled with medications / diet change and only last for a few days. A common side effect with many chemotherapy treatments is a decrease in the white blood cell count. This could make them more susceptible to contracting infections if the decrease is severe. You must routinely check the blood cell counts before every chemotherapy treatment to insure that the white blood cell count is not dangerously low.

Although the above are the most common potential side effects, they occur in less than 30% of the pets receiving chemotherapy. Other side effects are possible, but are often unique to individual drugs (listed above).

How should I handle body fluids while my pet is on chemotherapy?
Do not handle feces, urine or vomitus unless absolutely necessary within 24 hours of the chemo administration. If your pet has an “accident”, wear gloves and clean the area with disposable items (paper towels, baby diapers, etc.) and dispose in the trash. Wash your hands thoroughly when you are finished cleaning. In general, it is recommended that clothing/ bedding which is soiled by feces, urine or vomitus within 24 hours of chemotherapy administration should be washed twice in hot water.  (GEE THIS STUFF SOUNDS TOXIC)

 There is also another type of chemotherapy protocol, called the metronomic protocol. This protocol combines three medications: Piroxicam, deramaxx or Rimadyl (NSAIDs), doxycycline (an antibiotic) and cyclophosphamide, (an oral chemotherapy drug). These three medications work on slowing down the blood supply to cancer cells, and also slow down their growth. The principle behind this is called "anti-angiogenesis" (angiogenesis means "creation of blood vessels").


 Immunotherapy
The immune system has the ability to distinguish malignant cells from normal cells. Because malignant cells express non‐self or altered self‐antigens, these cells are recognized by the immune system as different. The concept that the immune system can recognize and eliminate cancer is supported by reports of spontaneous resolution of cancer in patients that have not received treatment and the increased risk of cancer in individuals that are immunosuppressed. However, the immune system is inefficient at eliminating cancer. Malignant cells have mechanisms to evade the immune system. Also, the rapid growth of many cancers overwhelms the immune system’s ability to destroy it. Strategies have been developed to stimulate the immune system to fight off cancer. Immunotherapy is becoming a more defined and effective form of cancer therapy. (HEY THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF THE TIPPNER CANCER PROTOCOL THAT LUCY DOES) Varying forms of immunotherapy have proven efficacious in dogs with oral malignant melanoma, osteosarcoma, and hemangiosarcoma.





AND FINALLY HERE IS A LINK TO ANOTHER DOG BLOG WHO IS GOING THROUGH THIS AS WELL.










Lucy never did radiation or chemo, she only did the Tippner Protocol. The Tippner Cancer Protocol combines immunotherapy and molecular cancer therapy using off the shelf readily available inexpensive natural substances. She is past 3 years after diagnosis by biopsy

I buy most of the stuff from Swanson Vitamins. They are cheaper, in capsules for dosage changes, and carry almost everything I give to Lucy except for the Chinese Herbs Stasis Breaker prescription, and the Low Dose Naltrexone prescription. Here is a $5 off coupon link I found