New Experiences

I started working for The Veterinary Cancer Center roughly 3 months ago as the new Referral Coordinator.  When I started with The Veterinary Cancer Center a few short months ago, I had no idea how incredible this place was and the profound impact The Veterinary Cancer Center has played in so many people’s lives.  I came to The VCC with no prior medical knowledge or veterinary experience looking for a new challenge, and to find a career that I could be passionate about.  What I found when I got her was all of that and so much more. 

As I mentioned, I do not have a background in veterinary medicine and, to be completely honest, I never would have thought my career path would have brought me to The VCC,  but I am fortunate that it did.  I have spent a large part of my career in sales, marketing and management so the question I am often asked is “How did you end up working at The Veterinary Cancer Center.”  Well the answer to that question is easy… I love animals and I was presented with an opportunity to be part of a place that helps pets and their owners during a very difficult time.  The VCC provides hope to pets and their owners when, often times, there is very little and that is something not only to be passionate about,  but to be proud of. 

During a time when so many people are either looking for a job, or find themselves in a job that does not make them happy,  I am extremely thankful that I was brought in to be part of The VCC team.  Almost everyone I know either has had a pet with cancer or knows someone that has so,  I am very familiar with how difficult it can be.  It can be one of the hardest things to deal with and to know that I work for a place that will do everything to provide hope for the pet and the owner is pretty powerful.  For those of you that have a hard time believing what you reading, I urge you to come down to The Veterinary Cancer Center and see for yourself.  Once you do, I assure you, that you will be just as amazed as I was when I walked through the door.      

Ryan Shepherd

When the Doctor Becomes the Patient

     Cancer is a scary word. Usually I am the one giving the diagnosis or discussing the prognosis and treatment with heart broken pet owners. It is a lot different when my pet is the one with the diagnosis and I am the one hearing about the prognosis and treatment. Two of my own dogs have previously been diagnosed with and treated for cancer. As a pet owner it was devastating for me but as a veterinarian it was an invaluable lesson into the emotional roller coaster my clients endure on a daily basis. 

     As many of my clients and friends know, I love basset hounds! My current basset hound, Walter, is my third basset. I got Walter about 2 years ago, several months after losing my second basset, Kirby. Kirby was a "special needs" basset hound, whom at 8 years of age found himself in search of a new home. I found Kirby (or maybe he found me) when he was almost nine. We had 3 and a half great years together when he was diagnosed with lymphoma. I was devastated, but as a fourth year veterinary student I knew a few things about lymphoma and took Kirby to see an oncologist right away. I already knew that I wanted to be as aggressive as possible while maintaining Kirby's excellent quality of life. Kirby was quickly started on an injectable multi-agent chemotherapy protocol (the CHOP protocol). As a vet student I knew that Kirby's lymph nodes were supposed to shrink quickly and return to normal after receiving his first treatment. I checked his lymph nodes multiple times a day waiting for them to get smaller. But days went by with no change, he had further treatments, weeks went by and still no change. Kirby still felt great and was handling his chemotherapy well but his lymph nodes were not budging. I was again devastated, the chemotherapy was not working. 

    But I wouldn't give up and neither did Kirby's oncologist. We decided to switch to a different treatment protocol, one in which Kirby received oral medications by mouth daily. Again, I hopefully felt his lymph nodes every day, willing them to get smaller. Again, there was no change in the size of his lymph nodes. I was starting to feel defeated, but lucky for me and for Kirby, his oncologist was not defeated. We switched Kirby to yet another treatment protocol. Full of new hope, I continued my ritual of daily lymph node palpation. This time it worked! Kirby's lymph nodes were normal and he still felt great! I was beyond thrilled. Not only did the new protocol give me 5 additional months with Kirby (who sadly was euthanized for a reason unrelated to lymphoma) but I also learned an important lesson; never give up hope. Sometimes hope is all we have, we hope that the next treatment will work, we hope that our friends continue to feel well during treatment and we hope that when the time comes to say good bye it is peaceful. Kirby and his doctors taught me a lot and because of them I will always have hope for my patients and my clients.

JenniferMcDaniel, DVM

The Missing Link

As I toyed with the idea of going back to school to become a Registered Nurse (for humans), I found myself teetering between an unwillingness to leave veterinary medicine and a desire to further my education in order to elevate my level of medical knowledge and clinical skills.

 

It seemed that the more I learned here, at The VCC, the more that I realized how fascinating the field of Oncology was. I would hear Dr. Post frequently referencing human Oncology literature and I started to appreciate the undeniable link between veterinary and human Oncology.

I realized that going to Nursing School did not mean that I was going to be forced to make a choice between animals and people. It was becoming clear that Oncology was Oncology and that really, there didn’t need to be a line drawn between the species that I would work with.

Now that I have graduated and am proud to be both a Licensed Veterinary Technician and a Registered Nurse, it is all starting to come together with my new role as Clinical Trial Coordinator.

Maybe you’re wondering what it is that a Clinical Trial Coordinator actually does…. Check out my next blog to hear more about I get to help patients receive cutting edge treatment (sometimes for free) while at the same time helping to further research for animals and humans with cancer!

 

Maria Salas, LVT, RN,  Clinical Trial Coordinator for VCC

LEXI

I brought Lexi home as an 8 week old puppy in November 2001. She was a beautiful brindle boxer/pit bull mix who got me in quite a lot of trouble with my landlord, as I wasn’t allowed to have pets in my building – as any true pet lover knows, rules about animals are merely suggestions that don’t necessarily need to be followed! We always had fun rollerblading when we lived in Hamden, she would wear a harness and drag me sled-dog style down the bike trail, and when I moved into Fairfield, St. Mary’s in Black Rock became our new favorite place to hang out – she loved to swim in the marsh at high tide. Her brother Roscoe, a boxer, came into our lives in 2004, and she had a constant companion from then on. She lived a very comfortable doggy life in our home in Stratford, we have a big yard where her and Roscoe ran and played, and a big couch to spread out on inside. Her tail would wag so hard she would leave bruises on your leg (and knock more than a few things off the coffee table). Anyone who knew Lexi knew her tail.

In April of this year, I came home to find my previously perfectly healthy dog had a distended belly, and my 10 years of training in veterinary medicine told me that something really bad was going on – despite the still wagging tail. Cancer was at the top of my list of “what could be wrong,” and unfortunately, I was right. I said goodbye to Lexi in July, but she didn’t go down without a fight, and her tail never stopped wagging. I’ll talk more about the path we took through emergency surgery and aggressive chemotherapy next time. For now, I want to share one of my favorite pictures of her with you. Thanks for taking the time to follow our story.



Allyson Stewart, CVT, VTS (Oncology)

November has been renamed “Movember”

No, that is not a typo.  November is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and an international movement started in Australia, Movember—was started in 2003. Movember events have raised $126 million since 2003, with all the funds donated to charities that target men’s health issues-- the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG Foundation.

Prostate cancer does not just affect men; dogs also get this form of cancer. It is thankfully an uncommon disease, but it does occur in both neutered and intact dogs. The signs of prostate cancer in dogs are straining to urinate, bloody urine, back pain, and/or straining to defecate. Diagnostic tests include a good physical examination (including a rectal examination), urinalysis, abdominal radiographs, abdominal ultrasound, and a biopsy or cytology to confirm the diagnosis.

Therapy for prostate cancer in dogs is different from treatment in men. As all of the prostate cancers in dogs are androgen-independent, anti-androgen (anti-testosterone) therapies do not work. In addition, the cancer in dogs is usually highly malignant. Surgical removal of the prostate gland in dogs is very difficult and is only effective when the tumor is detected at a very early stage. The typical therapy involves NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The Veterinary Cancer Center in Norwalk, CT (www.vcchope.com) conducted research on the use of chemotherapy in dogs with prostate cancer and is gearing up to continue that research by evaluating the use of highly targeted radiation therapy--IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy) for the treatment of this disease.

How you can help---Please visit http://us.movember.com/team/777069 and donate to our Team. The money raised will help find an end to this all too common and devastating disease of men (and dogs).

Dr. Gerald Post

Sammy's Story

In this month's Blog I would like to pay tribute to a very special little beagle named Sammy. I was blessed to have been given the opportunity to meet, care for, and grow to love Sammy. Sammy was super resilient boy who battled a severe heart condition in addition to the bladder cancer I was treating him for. He fought hard, had a fabulous quality of life, and constantly proved me wrong by outliving all the predicted survival times for his condition. Sammy was blessed to have a wonderful human family that loved him immensely and took amazing care of him. Sadly, Sammy lost his battle in July 2012.

Below is “Sammy's Story” authored by his human parents. It is a wonderful tribute to his life and it proves how often animals actually end up rescuing us when we think we are rescuing them.

Dr. Gina Olmsted

   On Sunday, July 22, Sammy, our sweet Beagle, passed away at home, surrounded by those who loved him.

We'll never forget when we first saw his adorable face. We brought dog and cat food to the Animals for Life shelter in Middlebury, CT one Saturday morning in February, 2010, and as we walked through looking at all the dogs, there he was, quietly sitting on his haunches, one paw up against the cage door, calling to us with his eyes."I belong to you", he was saying.  We filled out an application, but were told that another family was ahead of us. But fate would bring him to us instead. When Sue brought Mac to the vet to be neutered, (that was the name they had given him) she discovered that he had a heart murmur and would need daily medication.  When the other family heard this, they no longer wanted him, and so Sammy found his forever home with us.

  He was sweet and funny and cuddly and a bit of a devil. He loved his walks and his couch and his stuffed lion and llama, which he "stole" from the stuffed animal basket.  And he adored his people. His heart and lungs got progressively worse, but it didn't slow him down. With the help of his local cardiologist, as well as the chief

cardiologist at the Animal Medical Center in New York City, he was stabilized.

  Then on December 10, 2011, we received the devastating news that Sammy had a tumor in his bladder. A wonderful internist at VCA Shoreline Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center in Shelton, CT diagnosed it, and that same day we had the good fortune to meet Dr. Gina Olmsted, an oncologist from the Veterinary Cancer Center in Norwalk, CT. She became not only Sammy's oncologist, but a dear friend who loved Sammy so much.  We tried 3 months of different protocols, including intravenous chemotherapy, but the tumor wasn't shrinking.  So together with Dr, Olmsted, we made the decision to stop all treatment.  His kidney function was very poor, but much to every one’s surprise, he rebounded, got a second wind, and had 4 more excellent months.
 
   We believe that he knew how much we needed him to stay with us through July.  My father's funeral was July 14, and by July 19 my nephew and sister, who were here from the west coast, had left to go home.  The house quieted down, and then Sammy began to slow down. For 3 days we were constantly with him, every moment of the day and night.  He wasn't eating any longer, nor could he take his walks, but he loved being outside on the grass and sleeping with us at night.

On Sunday, July 22, he spent most of the day outside on the grass, and we took turns staying there with him. By early afternoon he let us know that he did not want to be outside any longer, and he stumbled to the front door.  I carried him inside, and put him on a soft bed in the entry, but he was very restless.  Finally, he tried valiantly to walk to his couch, and so I gently picked him up and laid him in a comfortable position. At 5:10pm, he took his last breath, and went over the Rainbow Bridge.

   Over the past years we have loved a Springer Spaniel, a Collie, 2 Basset Hounds, a Flatcoat Retriever, and 2 mixed breeds, but none ever stole our hearts like this little Beagle.  We are heartbroken and bereft, and wait for him to come trotting around the corner.  We are so grateful to everyone who walked with us and Sammy on his difficult journey –  His local veterinarians and cardiologist, the veterinarians and staff at Shoreline and Animal Medical Center, and Dr. Gina Olmsted and the staff of the Veterinary Cancer Center.

We have been told by so many people how blessed Sammy was to have found such a loving home and such devoted parents like us.  But we are the ones whose lives were touched and blessed by the gift of this loving, adorable Beagle.

-Helen and Karen

 

“You can give chemotherapy to dogs like in humans?

I’ve been working in the veterinary medical field for a little over 10 years.  General practice, emergency, specialty dentistry, exotics, it seems like I’ve seen and done it all until I started working at The Veterinary Cancer Center. I’m from a small town in Texas where I feel that it is unheard of to treat an animal that has cancer. The common perception that I hear the most when people learn that I work at a Specialty Oncology Center is “Dogs can get cancer?”  Or my personal favorite; “You can give chemotherapy to dogs like in humans?  Or “You have the capability to radiate tumors too? “ The answer is yes you can.  I can honestly say that I had the same view and attitude but I came to realize the sheer science, beauty, and what a discipline veterinary oncology entails. My primary role in the hospital is Radiation Therapy, where I work alongside Tara, Rosie, and Dr. Farrelly. Dr. Farrelly is one of the few veterinarians in the country that is a double boarded in Radiation Oncology through the American College of Veterinary Radiology and Medical Oncology through the American College of Internal Medicine (Oncology). It is a true honor to learn and work with him.

Like I said before, Veterinary Oncology is a very interesting and amazing niche in veterinary medicine and Radiation Oncology is an even smaller niche that I find even more amazing. With my limited experience in the field I can say that I’ve seen some amazing and inspirational things being done. My personal philosophy is that I devote my life and time to my animals and I’m trusted in the care of your animal as a veterinary technician and want provide the best care possible. So when I see an animal that is clearly in pain or not feeling well due to a cancer, I want to see results just as you do. By working with Dr. Farrelly in the Radiation Oncology Department, I see animals that are in pain, but after a couple weeks of treating these patients, I feel like I can see the relief and see that they feel better.  Sure, the side effects of radiation are there, but getting down to the root of why we’re treating, we are potentially curing and prolonging an animal’s life. We can always treat the side effects (that’s the easy part).  Next month I’ll present one of these cases and show you firsthand the “awesomeness” of what we do for your pet.  Until then, continue to Hope, and we’ll continue to give Hope to your pet.

-Stephen Renner

My Amazing Job!

During my year here, I’ve seen a lot of amazing things happen.  Dogs that have to be carried or brought in on a gurney, return the following week walking, wagging their tails.  Tumors and lymph nodes shrinking, to almost nothing, with one dose of chemotherapy.  Dogs and cats going into remission for years, coming in for just rechecks to show us how happy and healthy they are.    Even more amazing is the things I’ve seen now that I am part of the radiation team here at the VCC.    Together with Dr. Farrelly and Stephen, we have treated 63 patients; each with their own unique radiation protocol.  

One amazing case we just finished with is Faith, a 9 year old mixed breed dog with a pituitary gland tumor.  The most amazing thing about this case (other than the fact that her owners found her in the woods of Maine as a puppy, and she resembles the most beautiful wolf you will ever see!) was that we were about to treat her brain!  I cannot express how amazed I was being part of her treatment.  I watched as Dr. Farrelly used a CT scan of her brain and films from the radiation machine to pinpoint where he wanted us to radiate her.  Faith did absolutely amazing during her 20 daily radiation treatments, and even became very comfortable with us (despite her clear reservations in the beginning).    I loved seeing her everyday…kissing her head…hoping that all this amazing work would help her live a long, cancer-free life!

Tara McNama, LVT

 

 

 

Emotionally Hijacked by Cancer

One of the biggest hurdles we face at The Veterinary Cancer Center is that most people associate cancer treatment in people with cancer treatment in pets. Witnessing a friend or a family member undergoing cancer treatment; even watching an episode of House will leave even the most optimistic person with a false and preconceived notion of what to expect in regards to cancer therapy in pets.

When my own dog was diagnosed with malignant histiocytosis I was immediately emotionally hijacked by my personal experiences with how my family members handled their cancer therapies. As a co-owner of The VCC, the doctors here still needed to remind me both intellectually and emotionally of how well pets handle cancer treatment.

Since cats and dogs have a limited life span (compared to people) the primary goals is not to cure the cancer, but to significantly slow it down. This not only gives them more time, but also gives them a higher quality of life… Even during treatment!

We do this by giving lower treatment doses then they do in humans (sometimes over longer periods of time) as well as treating the symptoms prophylactically. Many pets never show symptoms of either the disease or the treatment of disease. It’s truly amazing how well most pets do!

The other fact is that many pet owners and local veterinarians might not know all the amazing and novel therapies that have become available over the last few years. With the mapping of the genome, personalized medication, Radiation Therapy using IMRT, and the latest discovery regarding junk DNA, we are on the forefront of really making a difference when it comes to not only the treatment of pets with cancer, but for us humans as well.

Most people make emotional decisions every single day; it’s part of what makes us human. But I believe that one should never base a decision on fear or a lack of understanding. Always get the facts before making decisions about your pet’s health. The truth might surprise you…

 

David Duchemin

What I would change about the Veterinary Education System

I was at a conference recently with two colleagues of mine and we started talking about veterinary education. I am not sure how the topic came up, what we all started discussing the same point almost in unison. The topic was communication and how veterinarians discuss options with pet owners.  

All three of us had graduated from different veterinary schools, gone through different internships and residencies –and yet we all agreed that veterinary students everywhere need to re-organize their communication priorities. 

What do I mean “communication priorities”—I mean medical/surgical options need to be prioritized above finances. Don’t get me wrong, finances are AN important consideration when discussing any medical therapy, but they should not be the primary one. Information about options- ALL the options available, should be THE most important consideration.  Once a veterinarian and pet owner both understand what options are available for the pet, then, and only then should finances-or whatever other constraints –time, emotional, finances, etc.--may be pertinent to that pet owner be discussed. 

By prioritizing information and options first and finances second, we can better insure that the pet will get the best care possible AND that everything will be done that the pet owner can afford. If the priorities are stay as they are, clients will continue to feel that optimal care was not recommended or given, veterinarians will feel they need to be accountants, bankers and financial managers first and medical professionals second.  

We, the veterinary profession, need to trust pet owners. Trust that they can make the best decision for their family and their pet. This requires accurate and complete information. Veterinarians need to allow the owners to hear ALL of their options and then help them make choices, rather than only communicate those options the veterinarian THINKS the owner’s can afford.  Veterinarians need to be medical professionals not financial professionals. Pet owners come to us for medical information and guidance. 

Survey after survey over the past 25 years have shown that owners would have done more for their pet if their veterinarian had recommended it. The impetus to change the way we as veterinarians communicate needs to start at the veterinary schools throughout the country, this is where we learned the current communication prioritization.  

Empowering the pet owners and informing them of all the options available—as a starting point for discussion –may not be easy, but it is the right thing to do for the pets that have been entrusted into our care.

Dr. Gerald Post

Getting to know you

 

     I thought I would use this first blog entry to introduce myself; I am Dr. Jaclyn Smith. I have been a proud member of the VCC family since July 2010, when I started a 3-year residency program in medical oncology. What’s a residency, you ask? A residency is a vigorous additional training in a specialized area of veterinary medicine. It’s typically a 3-year program, following completion of veterinary school and a 1-year internship. WOW, that’s a lot of school/training! I know! I was born and raised in Ohio, so it’s only natural that I attended The Ohio State University for undergraduate and veterinary school. GO BUCKS!! I then moved a bit further northwest, to the windy city, for my 1-year internship and following, worked my way down south for some warmer weather in Atlanta for a 1-year oncology specific internship. You see, the residency programs are highly competitive so some people choose to have an additional year of training in order to become more qualified and prepared for the rigorous residency. From there, my career took me to the east coast to join VCC.

      I grew up surrounded by animals and veterinary medicine. My dad, whom I get most of my passion from, is a veterinarian still practicing in Ohio. Having always had pets growing up, it’s only natural that I now share my home with my very own “zoo”!  My family consists of Neo, a10 year old wildly crazy, but lovable Boxer, Annabelle, a 9 year old wiggly and happy Boxer, Balboa, a 7 year old timid, but sweet Chihuahua, and Wally, the coolest 5 year old cat I know! But wait, that’s not it! I also share my home with an incredibly supportive boyfriend Stephen and my sister Erica, who is also my best friend.

                Well, that’s it for now, but more to come later!

 

Jaclyn Smith, DVM

You're a Veterinary Oncologist?!?

                         When I tell people that I am a veterinarian I am always asked what kind of animals I work with. I go on to explain that I actually only see animals with cancer, whether they are cats, dogs, ferrets or rabbits (and hopefully, one day, horses). Ninety-nine percent of the time the reply is "How sad, how can you be around such sick animals all the time?". Although there are aspects of my job that are sad there are many more aspects that are happy, exciting and emotionally touching.

                        Prior to becoming a veterinarian two of my own dogs were diagnosed with and treated for cancer. I was devastated, but I was so thankful for the help of the veterinary oncologists and technicians who were there to help me and help my dogs. That is the happy part of my job. I have the privilege of being the veterinary oncologist who is there to help people and their pets. I am able give people more time with their best friend and I can help sick animals feel better. There is nothing that makes me happier then seeing a smiling owner being pulled across the waiting room by a tail wagging dog or seeing an owner snuggling their purring cat.

                        At the Veterinary Cancer Center I also have the unique opportunity to be involved with research and clinical trials. Many of these clinical trials are looking at medications and treatments that will not only benefit our four-legged friends but may also help humans with cancer. Being on the cutting edge of cancer research for humans and animals is very exciting and rewarding!

                        Another aspect of my job that I find very rewarding and touching is being able to help someone say goodbye to their best friend. There a few things more difficult then making the decision to let your friend go. I consider it a sacred responsibility that I am trusted to help an owner say goodbye and allow that animal to transition peacefully. I am honored to be present in the last few minutes of a long relationship and hear the words of love and thanks that all owners have for their pet as they take their last breaths. Yes, it is sad but it is important and I am a better person and a better doctor because of every euthanasia that I have performed.

           

JenniferMcDaniel, DVM

The Veterinary Cancer Center

My pet has cancer…are they in pain?

As an oncologist who sees many pets with cancer this is one of the questions that I sometimes find the hardest to answer.  A few years ago I found a very small swelling under my armpit that hurt when I touched it.  My doctor told me “not to worry…if it hurts it probably isn’t cancer.”  Fortunately for me he was right, but for a lot of our pets with cancer their tumors are more advanced when we find them, so they often are painful at that point. 

How can you tell if your pet is in pain?  There are some signs you can look for.  If your pet is limping it almost always is from pain.  If your pet has a tumor that is damaging bone anywhere in the body this is painful.  If your pet is acting abnormally in any way they may have pain.  For example, if they have an oral tumor and they won’t eat this is likely due to pain.  If your pet’s tumor is red or swollen or they are licking, scratching or biting at the tumor it probably hurts.

However, it is important to remember that some pets will never show these signs, even with a painful tumor.  Not that long ago dogs and cats were wild animals and their natural instinct is to hide pain… or be eaten!   Cats may hide more or have a decreased appetite when they are in pain but most cats show no signs of pain.  Many large breed dogs such as retrievers will wag their tail and beg for food, even with a tumor that we know would be horribly painful in a person.

It is very important to try to identify whether your pet is in pain because controlling that pain will improve their quality of life and in some cases can improve their response to treatment.  The best way to get rid of pain from a tumor is to get rid of the tumor.  Surgery, radiation or chemotherapy may help achieve this, but in cases where the tumor cannot be removed or controlled, pain management is important and veterinarians are getting much better at it.  Currently there are many more choices for pain control in pets than there were in the past.  Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, pain killers like buprenorphine and gabapentin help keep animals comfortable.  Also radiation can be very effective in controlling pain for certain tumors.  In some cases acupuncture may be used.

So if your pet has cancer of any type, whether you are going through treatment or you just want to keep them comfortable, ask your veterinarian to help you determine if your pet is in pain, and discuss what you can do to make them comfortable.

John Farrelly, DVM, MS, ACVIM (Oncology), ACVR (Radiation Oncology)
The Veterinary Cancer Center

   

Cody's Legacy

For me there have always been three types of “expenses” associated with the treatment of cancer. There are the financial, time, and emotional expenses; each one of these, unfortunately having to be considered when making decisions relating to whether and how to treat a pet with cancer.

When I found out that my 12 year old Rottweiler Cody had cancer I was devastated. Tough decisions needed to be made, but being a part owner of The Veterinary Cancer Center in Norwalk, CT, these were not decisions I needed to make alone. I had a team of the best doctors, with access to the best treatment modalities and, the latest in cutting edge clinical trials.

I was able to focus my attention fully on Cody’s care and deal solely with the emotional expense and was able to do so without being weighed down by the burden of the other expenses—financial and time-- associated with her treatment.

Because of all I was able to do, Cody's outlived her prognosis by almost 9 months-- something that few dogs with her type of cancer ever do.

When Cody did finally pass in July of 2009, I set out to honor the most miraculous and marvelous dog I had ever known. In a moment of support, Dr. Post, my partner, reminded me of how lucky I had been to be in a position of being able to do everything possible to help my beloved dog and that there were many people that could not afford the expenses associated with her treatment.

It was at that moment that I knew what I wanted to do to honor Cody. Although I could not help people with all of the “expenses” associated with cancer therapy, I could help them with the financial aspect of treatment. I could do this by co-creating a foundation that would raise money to help offset the costs of treating animals with cancer.

The Riedel & Cody Fund is not just about raising money. It is about giving knowledge and hope; about giving people the tools and the place to help one another. It is a community that embodies all the values that we should emulate from our pets; one of unwavering dedication and compassion. A community that we hope will connect people in need with those with generosity of heart and of spirit.

For more information about The Riedel & Cody Fund click here.

David Duchemin
Chief Operating Officer, and Practice Co-Owner of
The Veterinary Cancer Center

Co-Founder, and Treasurer of
The Riedel & Cody Fund

 

Can my pet with cancer get his or her routine vaccinations?

Recently, I have received many questions regarding whether a pet with cancer should receive routine vaccinations. The short answer is, it depends.
 
The long answer is:
 
If a pet has a type of cancer that arises from the immune system I recommend that vaccinations be limited as stimulating the immune system MAY cause the cancer to progress or potentially come out of remission. Examples of a few common cancers that arise from the immune system include: Lymphoma, Mast cell tumors, and Plasma cell tumors. Many other types of cancer do not arise from the immune system and so there is less concern for the above.
 
Now, this in no way means that every pet with cancer should be exempt from vaccinations. Vaccinations are very important and serve to benefit your pet by protecting them from numerous infectious diseases (some of which have very serious consequences even including death, such as with the Rabies virus).
 
The best approach to determine which vaccines your pet with cancer should receive is to partner with your pet's general health care veterinarian and with us at the VCC. Instead of a blanket recommendation for every pet I emphasize the importance of looking at a pet's individual risk and benefit profile regarding each vaccination. Here is an example to help clarify: a pet that lives in an area that has a high prevalence of Lyme disease and who hunts all day in the woods would benefit from the Lyme vaccine due to that pet's personal high risk of contracting Lyme disease. In contrast, for a pet with an immune system cancer living in a geographic area that sees very little Lyme disease I would not recommend this vaccine as the risk of the vaccine would outweigh the benefit in this pet.
 
A titer can also be run on some vaccinations. A titer is a blood test that is used to determine if the immunity imparted from a particular vaccine is still high in your pet. If a titer is run and it shows that a pet still has strong immunity to a particular disease it may not be necessary to re-vaccinate for that disease. An example of a vaccine for which a titer can be performed is the distemper vaccine.
 
There are also some legal implications to consider when deciding whether to vaccinate a pet with cancer. Certain vaccines are mandated by state law for the protection of the individual pet as well as the protection of other animals and of people. The best example of this is the Rabies vaccine which is required by state law in CT. In some cases an exemption letter can be written to allow an individual pet exemption from the vaccine, however, this decision needs to be made very cautiously.
 
So unfortunately there is no short and easy answer to the question put forth above.  It is imperative that you partner with your pet’s general health care veterinarian and with us at the VCC to make the best decisions for your individual pet based on his or her risk/benefit profile.  Utilizing a team approach with input from your pet’s general health care veterinarian, your pet’s oncologist, and you (the pet’s parent) will allow for development of the optimal vaccination plan for your pet.

 

GinaOlmsted, DVM

The Veterinary Cancer Center

Mommy, Can I Keep Him?

As some of you know, we participate in many clinical trials at The Veterinary Cancer Center (VCC). One of our current patients, a Golden Retriever named Finnegan, is currently participating in one of our clinical trials. This specific trial is one month long and there are weekly treatments and blood work. Unfortunately, Finnegan’s owners live about four hours away, so he has been staying with us for the duration of his treatments.

I had the opportunity to take Finn home one night—the owner was so pleased that her dog could go home with me. It was such a wonderful experience to have Finn at our home, he brought such joy to me and my son. Finn is an amazing dog! He is 11 years old and you would never know it with the amount of energy he has. He will take any attention he can get.

Finnegan’s stay with us is coming to an end and it is a bitter sweet moment for me and I’m sure everyone here at The VCC. After coming in every morning for a month and seeing his adorable face and wagging tail it’s going to be hard for all of us when he leaves. He has an amazing family and I’m sure they’ve missed him very much and will be happy to have him home. I hope we get to see him again and we wish him and his family all the best.

Kim Strazza - Senior Technician
The Veterinary Cancer Center

Veterinary Oncology? ...Where’s the proof?

I always find it interesting when being introduced to people who have never heard of veterinary oncology or in layman's terms, “cancer treatment for animals”. Sure, one might say that my current occupation in the veterinary field may have something to do with my knowledge of the subject, but in any event, I’m still perplexed every time someone cocks their head to the side like a puppy after hearing about veterinary oncology.

Of course it’s natural for people to have differences in their appreciation for animals and therefore interest in any related subject, but i’d say 90% of the time I get one of the following responses; “I never knew that! Is it like human cancer treatment? How successful is it?”. I have come to realize that many people do not know about Veterinary Oncology or how it goes beyond the realm of dogs and cats, and few are aware of its effectiveness. That said, people need to be made more aware of the physiological similarities that exists between us humans and our four-legged friends. In fact, we so closely resemble each other physiologically that many of the current oncological advancements in human oncology began with the treatment of pets.

To a certain degree I can understand how some people may be skeptical of my prior statements, such as those individuals who find things hard to believe unless they’ve experienced it firsthand -- But it is difficult to provide visible proof of the relationship between the physiological response of man and “man’s best friend”. Although I must admit that, even working at The Veterinary Cancer Center, chemotherapy and radiation sometimes seem a bit like wishful magic.

For example, about one week ago I was inadvertently presented with the perfect testimonial -- a bold form of evidence that not even Houdini could replicate. Seven days earlier, Dr. Farrelly had asked me to take a picture of a rectal mass on one of The VCC patients he and Dr. Post are currently treating . A week later, he requested that I repeat the same exact thing to the very same patient, except this time he asked me to upload the images to the patients file.

It was then that my neurons started making the necessary connection, and I thought “this is the perfect testimonial.” In the original image the tumor was approximately the size of a golfball, but in only one week it had noticeably decreased in size to nothing more than a pea. The dog was happier, The VCC was proud, and I got my proof. Now, whenever I meet someone who needs to learn a thing or two about veterinary oncology, I begin by showing them a side-by-side view of the two images; the before and after pictures of a rectal mass. Isn’t irony great?

Give me paw,
Alex