Today Newton had an appointment up at CSU. He had the following done:

• Physical Examination and some blood work
• Tumor Measurement - Dr. Perry indicated that the tumor hadn't grown in size since the last set of X-Rays taken on September 3rd. He also mentioned that the team thought they saw something on an X-Ray of his right leg, so they took some additional X-Rays to make sure that it wasn't an area of concern as well.
• Gene Therapy Administration - They also injected the tumor with a gene therapy that has demonstrated anti-tumor responses in rodents and in canine oral melanoma. As I understand it, the gene is carried to the tumor cells by an adenovirus vector with the intent to induce apoptosis (programmed cell death).

During his appointment, they also did a Jamshidi bone biopsy under fluoroscopic guidance. Dr. Perry indicated that the collected specimen may only contain reactive bone. Due to the specimen consistency (if that makes sense), they collected multiple biopsy specimens to improve the changes of making a diagnosis.

Newton was in quite a bit of pain coming home. Mary let me borrow her mini-van. THANK YOU MARY! The mini-van was a life savor. He is on 2.5 chewable tablets of Deracoxib (100 MG) a day and 3 tablets of Tramadol (50 MG) twice a day.

Throughout the weekend, I spent a lot of time researching canine bone cancer and the various treatment options. This weekend made me appreciate the value the Internet provides. Ten years ago, information would have be a lot less assessable. I found a ton of awesome sites and Yahoo! groups. You can find the links on Newton's "Links" page.

We caught Newton's cancer very early. According to Dr. Ehrhart, it is a Stage II. Stage II means that the cancer has not spread, but can be seen coming through the bone cortex. Based on the X-Rays, that he is giant breed, and the location of the tumor, it sounds like it is most likely Osteosarcoma. Although unlikely, I am told that there is a possibility of other kinds of bone cancer (Fibrosarcoma, Hemangiosarcoma, etc.). Dr. Ehrhart said treatment is very similar for the other tumor types. Armed with this information, I decided that we would pursue the "gold standard" of treatment: Amputation followed by Chemotherapy.

After much discussion, Mary and I decided that the "Gene Therapy for Canine Osteosarcoma" clinical trial would be the one that I would pursue.

I have pet insurance with a cancer rider on Newton. So cost was not really a factor in my decision to pursue a clinical trial. Since the cause of cancer in dogs is largely unknown, I feel that it is important (given the opportunity) to contribute to finding the cause and more effective treatment.

Following the bone scan, a Radiologist talked to me, but an Oncologist didn't. I was told that I needed to schedule an Oncology Consult. I had thought that is what I had done when I had booked the original appointment at CSU (at least that is what I was told), but it didn't appear to be the case. The thing that I learned is that you have to be very specific with the folks who are scheduling the appointments. What I should have booked was 3 appointments for a single day: Oncology Consult, Bone Scan, and Follow-up Oncology Consult.

Today, we were greeted by Katie Kennedy (a 4th year student) and 2 vet students visiting from Japan. They conducted a physical exam and took down Newton's history. Then, Dr. Ehrhart met with us. Dr. Roberts had provided me with a disk of Newton's X-Rays. Dr. Ehrhart said that based on the X-Rays and the bone scan that she was 85% sure that it was Osteosarcoma.

Dr. Ehrhart laid out the various treatment options and prognosis. Due to the location (proximal humerus), Newton is not a candidate for limb-spare. She also talked about palliative treatment, amputation, and chemotherapy. One of my concerns is if a giant breed would do well with only 3 legs. She indicated that Newton would make a good amputation candidate based on his body structure, especially since he has a fairly narrow chest.

CSU has some clinical trials that they currently have going on that Newton may be a candidate for, so Dr. Ehrhart had Dr. Momont discuss the clinical trials with me. I got a degree in Biochemistry and know the value that clinical trials can have for treatment in the future, so it was something that I inquired about.

The three Dr. Momont discussed with me were: Gene therapy for Canine Osteosarcoma, Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Treatment of Osteosarcoma, and Radiation Therapy with or without Bisphosphonate for Palliative Treatment of Canine Osteosarcoma.

I was surprised that I was not more upset when Dr. Ehrhart told me that she suspects Newton has Osteosarcoma. I guess that I prepared myself a bit before the second set of X-Rays. I have to do what is right for Newton. He needs to be happy and comfortable. So, now I am faced with the challenge: how do I want to proceed???

Today, Newton had his bone scan up at CSU. I guess that I didn't really understand going into it what a bone scan was exactly. I thought that the bone scan would tell me whether the lesion was bone cancer or an infection. What I learned is that a bone scan will pick up bone activity.

The bone scan works by injecting a radioactive chemical, sometimes called a "tracer", into the bloodstream through an IV. The chemical will attach itself to areas of bone that are undergoing rapid changes. Over a period of several hours, a lot of the tracer accumulates in the problem area(s). A special camera is then used to take pictures of the skeleton. The chemical tracer is radioactive, and therefore sends out radiation that can be captured by the camera.

When I picked Newton up, I had a consultation with a Radiologist. They indicated that there was increased bone activity in Newton's left humerus. The rest of his skeletal system was clear.

It was good news that they were able to confirm the isolated area, but I still didn't have the answers that I was looking for. Is it cancer?!?!

I have gotten a tremendous amount of support from my breeders, Mary and Chris DeLisa of Divine Mastiffs. Therefore, I feel it is important to say a few words about finding the right breed and deciding where you are going to get your dog.

There are so many breeds and mixed-breeds of dogs available today. It is important to choose the right breed and dog for you and your family. Each breed and individual dog has its own unique temperament, appearance, activity level, and set of needs. Some things to consider when choosing the right dog for you and your family:

• Temperament
• Size
• Activity Level
• Coat/Grooming Needs
• Male or Female
• Puppy or Adult
• Health

Some of the things I considered when I was researching Mastiffs were:

• Drool
• Shedding
• Size
• Costs – bigger dogs do cost more
• Potential health issues

I am a big advocate of research and making educated decisions. Just as important to researching the right dog for you is making an educated decision on whether to purchase your puppy from a reputable breeder or rescue a dog in need of a loving home. SAY NO TO PUPPY MILLS, PET STORES, AND BACKYARD BREEDERS!!! Puppy mills, pet stores, and backyard breeders do not have you or the animals’ best interest at heart. They are just in it to make a profit.

I chose to purchase my puppy from a reputable breeder. It took me a year to decide if a Mastiff was the breed for me and to find the right breeder. Finding the right breeder, the right litter, and ultimately the right puppy, is well worth the wait.

The following were things I considered when deciding on the right breeder:

• What health testing have then done?
• Purpose of the breeding program – age of the dam and sire, frequency of breeding, what was the purpose of the breeding (what traits were they looking for)?
• What faults do the dam and sire have, what good points do the dam and sire have?
• Are they involved in conformation showing?
• What steps will they be taking to help socialize the puppies prior to coming home?
• What is their commitment to the puppy buyer?

I was lucky and found a great breeder. Mary and Chris of Divine Mastiffs not only met the criteria I was looking for in a breeder, they have always been there for me when I had questions or needed advice. I remember one night I called them at midnight because Newton had swallowed a squeaky toy that looked like a bone and I didn’t know what to do.