Dog Cancer Care.com - View Single Post - Hamlet's Weekly Update

Meesh · 03-08-2010, 03:19 PM

Today, Hamlet went to Penn for bloodwork; no chemo this week. Everything looked
really good. He gained almost another full pound. His blood counts were
"unremarkable" - although, he's still slightly anemic - and his liver enzymes
ALL DROPPED BY HALF!!! Yippee! While they're still not all within normal range,
they are definitely improving. Since the bloodwork all looks good, next Monday,
he'll be going in for his next round of chemo - Elspar.
I had a phone consult with the HV after we received the bloodwork and he's happy
with everything. He would like us to add a Vitamin B + Iron (like a geritol) for
the anemia and a Vitamin A. The onc isn't against it but said that if the anemia
is caused by the chemo (which happens), the iron isn't going to improve the
situation BUT it wouldn't hurt him either. My dilemma is whether I should add
yet another pill to Hamlet's pharmacy or leave it alone. The HV also wants to
add an adrenal glandular supplement because he said that the bloodwork shows
some strain on the adrenal function. (I have to take his word on this one.)
Interesting note here: since the onc was unfamiliar with the holistic
treatments, she shared them (i.e. their ingredients) with the vet school
resident nutritionist. The nutrtitionist had nothing good or bad to say about
any of them except one. Her only comment was that the Intesti-tune includes a
probiotic like in yogurt and she would be cautious introducing a live culture to
an immuno-suppressed dog. Hmmm. I can see the logic here - a probiotic is a
bacteria albeit a supposed GOOD bacteria but a bacteria none-the-less; could
this bacteria then not perform properly because the immune system also isn't
functioning properly? Just thought I'd throw that out there because I know
others of you use the probiotics. I still intend to use it until I see
detrimental effects but thought it would be a good conversation starter.
All in all though, a good report! No sticker this week; but, the nurse told me that they let him run
loose around the treatment room today so he'll sleep well tonight, I'm sure.

Michelle, Rufus & Hamlet (dx 01/29/10 tx 02/01/10)

03-08-2010, 03:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
Meesh Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Washington Township (Sewell), NJ Posts: 329	Hamlet's Weekly Update - 03/08/10 Today, Hamlet went to Penn for bloodwork; no chemo this week. Everything looked really good. He gained almost another full pound. His blood counts were "unremarkable" - although, he's still slightly anemic - and his liver enzymes ALL DROPPED BY HALF!!! Yippee! While they're still not all within normal range, they are definitely improving. Since the bloodwork all looks good, next Monday, he'll be going in for his next round of chemo - Elspar. I had a phone consult with the HV after we received the bloodwork and he's happy with everything. He would like us to add a Vitamin B + Iron (like a geritol) for the anemia and a Vitamin A. The onc isn't against it but said that if the anemia is caused by the chemo (which happens), the iron isn't going to improve the situation BUT it wouldn't hurt him either. My dilemma is whether I should add yet another pill to Hamlet's pharmacy or leave it alone. The HV also wants to add an adrenal glandular supplement because he said that the bloodwork shows some strain on the adrenal function. (I have to take his word on this one.) Interesting note here: since the onc was unfamiliar with the holistic treatments, she shared them (i.e. their ingredients) with the vet school resident nutritionist. The nutrtitionist had nothing good or bad to say about any of them except one. Her only comment was that the Intesti-tune includes a probiotic like in yogurt and she would be cautious introducing a live culture to an immuno-suppressed dog. Hmmm. I can see the logic here - a probiotic is a bacteria albeit a supposed GOOD bacteria but a bacteria none-the-less; could this bacteria then not perform properly because the immune system also isn't functioning properly? Just thought I'd throw that out there because I know others of you use the probiotics. I still intend to use it until I see detrimental effects but thought it would be a good conversation starter. All in all though, a good report! No sticker this week; but, the nurse told me that they let him run loose around the treatment room today so he'll sleep well tonight, I'm sure. Michelle, Rufus & Hamlet (dx 01/29/10 tx 02/01/10)