About costs…my pawrents and oncologist are working on a chart that will show estimates for the different treatment options for treating lung metastasis. That should be up here very soon. For now, I will say that on the front end, the costs of metronomic protocol treatments are around $200 every 50 days or so, not counting the K9 Immunity that I am taking. There are less expensive ways to do the protocol that we will investigate, like getting the cheaper doxycycline from Walmart as part of their $4 generic prescription option. For now, the cost I’ve mentioned is a ballpark figure. I don’t know the exact costs of chemo yet, only to say that each treatment is about $600 (anyone care to correct me?). We will have a chart to you shortly.

As far as if/how the therapy is benefiting humans, this type of therapy is being used with humans battling cancer. My Mom found a mention of it when Googling “metronomic protocol” and “humans.”

Please let us know how Stitchie is doing. We send our love and thoughts your way.

-Jerry

Please try not to worry about Taylor. My Mom and Dad tend to be ultra paranoid too, so you’re in good company. Remember, one day at a time. Take him to the vet and see what they think. It may be nothing. I have lipomas too, and they are harmless. If I had one near my butt I’d probably sit funny too!

About that cough; well, from what the vets have told us, that symptom is something that happens very late in osteosarcoma. I cough sometimes, and we finally learned that it is because the tumor that’s in my lung may be bothering my esophagus, because it seems to be on top of it. That may be one reason why I cough, but really, I’ve been doing it for almost a year. My pawrents of course thought it was a sign that the cancer was back, and it might have just started a year ago, but I’m still doing great and that’s all that counts.

I also lick my bed a lot, and I didn’t used to do that either until after my surgery. My Mom and Dad never connected the licking with my lost limb until recently, when someone else said that their dog does the same thing. And yes, we dogs do get the phantom limb thing sometimes.

Please let us know what the vet says tomorrow, OK? Good luck! We send our love.

-Jerry

Lately ( in the past few days) I’ve noticed him having a “wet” cough every once in a while. My other issue is that he is an older dog, and for years has had a lot of lipomas over his body. Most are in random harmless places. There is one, however, that is on his upper, inside leg (lower butt-cheek) that makes him spread his legs a little. I’m afraid because if it gets bigger, I don’t think we can get it off, since he’s old and can’t get around on 2 legs. And even though his legs feel bumpless he’s been licking his remaining front leg more than usual. I’m paranoid about that too. When he lays down on his dogbed, I see him licking the bed where his other leg would be. I didn’t think dogs had the phantom limb thing.

I’m sorry for the long reply, but I think you all know the stress, worry, and paranoia that comes with having a dog with cancer! If anyone has suggestions, they would be quite welcome!