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BoxerMad  13:54:13 Sun Apr 17 2011 Offline 1150 posts Admin   Mood Now:  Reply |
Henry is doing amazingly well - He is pretty much back to his old self! He has so much energy again and just wants to play ALL the time!
He has been on the Chemotherapy for almost six weeks now. He is on a new type of chemotherapy which involves angiogenesis inhibitors which basically target the blood vessels attached to the cancer cells and prevents them from growing. As it targets only the cancerous blood vessels, there are less side effects than with conventional chemotherapy. Most chemotherapy treatments attack all cells including healthy ones. His last blood tests just over a week ago, did show slightly low levels of white blood cells, but we have been told this is to be expected. Due to this though, we have been asked to take him for an additional blood test in a few days time, just to monitor this. It puts a smile on my face every day to see him so happy and with so much energy. The costs are a lot higher than we expected though and we are not sure how long we are going to be able keep up with this treatment. We have been lucky so far, in that the medication has been given to us free, as they had a stock of Palladia, given to them by an American veterinary association as a trial (The full cost of the medication if we had to buy it from them works out at over £250 per month). I have found a place on the internet where i can buy the same drug for around £170 a month. We will probably have to start paying for it ourselves following his next visit to the Royal Veterinary College in a couple of weeks. It is the cost of the blood tests and consultations which are adding up. Each visit to the Royal Veterinary College costs us just over £200 (once every four weeks) and that is just for a blood test and consultation. In between that we have to visit our own vet to have another blood test and urine test done which costs around another £170. So far we have spent almost £400 this month and luckily got the medication free. At this rate though, once we start having to pay for medication we are looking at around £600 per month which is triple what we were expecting (We were initially told that medication would be around £100 and a blood test around £100 - once per month). We still have a bit of money in our Henry Fund which will hopefully cover the next couple of months, but are going to have to ask our own vet what alternatives there are on our next appointment on Wednesday. It is absolutely gutting as we would love to be able to keep him on the chemotherapy as long as possible, but we are running out of options. We have a few other things we can do which will raise a bit more money for him, but the money does not go very far at this rate! They would also like to do another CT scan in a month or two to see if the cancer has grown or spread any more. But that is around another £300 and although it will give us an idea on how he is doing, will not actually improve anything for him, that £300 could go towards another course of treatment so we are not sure what to do about that. It is so heartbreaking that the treatment he receives is all based on how much money we can find. Luckily we had the insurance which has got us this far - without the surgery, he probably wouldn't be with us now. Hopefully once we talk to our vet on Wednesday he will be able to tell us of some other treatment which will help him (maybe not as effective as the Palladia, but still better than nothing). Either that or continue praying for a lottery win!!!! I ahve read so much on treatment over the last couple of months, bought books, read up on the internet, but nothing seems to give us a clear indication of what could work for him. The treatment he is on is the newest and likely to be the most effective but there are so many contradictory statements about treatments that we are just not sure what to believe. We are so much happier in seeing Henry as improved as he is, but the money issues are still quite stressful.
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Polo123  14:58:11 Sun Apr 17 2011 Offline 1568 posts Mod  Mood Now:  Reply |
Glad to hear Henry is doing so well, really feel for you regarding the money, fingers crossed for the lottery
 
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SashasMum  20:50:01 Sun Apr 17 2011 Offline 4352 posts Admin  Mood Now:  Reply |
Really feel for you with the money worries Caroline. In an ideal world, we would give our last penny to save them, but you also have to be realistic. I can imagine it must be so stressful for you.
It's good to know he is doing so well, and I agree with the scan that the money can be better spent on medication rather than a test to find out how well it's working. Good luck and I hope you manage to find some answers, but you should be proud of yourselves for giving him the quality of life you have done so far. You are his angels xx |
Katiesnowflake  00:16:54 Mon Apr 18 2011 Offline 2202 posts Admin Mood Now:  Reply |
Totally agree. I can sympathise regarding the money angle. Katies food alone costs £90 a month - peanuts compared to what you have to pay out but it can be hard going when you take in the blood tests, urine analysis etc that she needs so frequently especially when there is no insurance Massive hugs to you and the gorgeous Henry
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sandyc 01:12:12 Mon Apr 18 2011 Offline 966 posts Boxer Maniac   Reply |
So wonderful to hear Henry is feeling so good!Wow!Those costs are sooo high.I so wish you (and I) could win a lottery!
All my dogkids have been going to the vet,for this or that,but nothing compared to yours. I wish I could afford insurance for my kids,I just try to save when I can,for emergencies,etc. Keeping Henry in my thoughts and prayers. |
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Jakes_mum 12:22:12 Fri Apr 22 2011 Offline 739 posts Boxer Maniac Mood Now:  Reply |
Its ridiculous how much they charge for everything. I wish we had a doggy NHS!!! Hope everything goes ok.
Liz |
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jilldemo 20:48:09 Fri Apr 22 2011 Offline 2067 posts Admin  Mood Now:  Reply |
Glad Henry is feeling better.
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