Hi--I am so disappointed in the doctor who has been treating Brandi. When she was first diagnosed by a surgeon that she had digital melanoma in May, I decided to go to a cancer "expert." She is one of the few board certified oncologists in the country. I talked with her at some length and she recommended that Brandi get chemotherapy followed by an experimental vaccination for melanoma. Of course we know chemo does not come without side effects and the vaccination has no side effects. I decided to trust her experience and judgment. I also took Brandi for acupuncture to give her an overall feeling of well being and gave her some Chinese herbs. I changed her diet to the one recommended for cancer. After 3 treatments with the chemo, she took x-rays and found the melanoma had metastasized to her lung. Now she is giving her the vaccination. I read all over the internet and discovered that melanoma is resistant to chemo. I also called the University of Wisconsin where the vaccination comes from and the woman basically told me the same thing. She also said the vaccination works better if the cancer has not spread. I am sooooo frustrated and upset because I cannot understand why she insisited on giving Brandi the chemo. Because the oncologist believes that chemo is the only cure and the vaccination is experimental, Brandi suffers and her life is shortened. I have been crying inside for two days now (can't cry in front of Brandi) because I chose to trust this doctor. I know I need to let these feelings go, but I feel I have been robbed.
Thank you for letting me rant and rave,
Jyl

jyl,
That is really frustrateing!
Why don't you call the Dr and tell her what you found out?
I took my dog to a specialist in Houston and he was very informative and even told me the last test we decided to run may not explain anything, but it did.
So maybe she is an optomist?
I have come to realize Dr's personalites reflect their work.
I don't know if your Dr was money hungry or just trying to help.
I think if you emailed or called her and explained what you found out, you would know in the manner she responds to you.

Jyl,
Are there any more specialists you can take your concerns to? Other opinions may help but I'm thinking that it may cost you more (in every way) in the long run. I feel for you and Brandi!!! Keep thinking that miracles can happen (they do every day) and maybe with an extra opinion it may tell you something more positive.
Praying for you and Brandi...God bless both of you!!
Lisa

Unfortunately animals are not immune to the type of malpractice that kills humans also. There is nothing to do but let the vet know what you think and move on. Are you near a University with a veterinary school or a major city with an animal medical center. If so, you could seek another opinion there. When Daisy had a cancer scare, I took her to see the head of oncology at the Animal Medical Center in NYC and thought she seemed quite good. Fortunately Daisy did not have cancer on top of the liver defect that ultimately killed her. I feel that the liver specialist who treated her, although well meaning, only made things worse and after a short hospitalization sent home a dying dog. At least, I got to be with her at the end.

It bothers me that we have to rely on the opinions of others for the care of our beloved pets. But, unless one is a vet, there is no other choice. All you can do is make the best choice you can based on the information you have at the time. You did that! Try to focus on Brandi, making her remaining days happy. All things die, but not all have love and happiness while they live. Brandi has that and will continue to have it as long as she is with you! In the end, that is what matters.

Best wishes to you and Brandi,

Daisy's Mommy, your companion in grief.

I am sorry for all you are going through. My Yoda went through 2 years of chemotherapy for Lymphoma. I can empathize with you wanting to do what is best, yet not wanting to let go. Luckily I was blessed with 5 more years with him, even though I would have taken 20 more.

Some of these articles are quite wordy in the medical language, but I thought they might be helpful. Try to just read the conclusions on the extremely intense ones.

I also did some research and found these links that may be helpful:

http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/appl...og/complete.asp

http://www.dvmnewsmagazine.com/dvm/article...l.jsp?id=173154

http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/...11/13/4827#TBL1

http://www.kten.com/Global/story.asp?S=4435592

http://www.cancerimmunity.org/v6p8/060308.htm

http://www.dvmnewsmagazine.com/dvm/article...l.jsp?id=310056

Hope this helps. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Theresa