Speaking of cancer treatments, I just remembered somebody (I apologize for my
insensitivity of not being able to remember exactly who, but I *am* truly
sorry for your loss) asked a few issues ago about whether or not there was
any way to tell earlier if a loved pet has bone cancer (can't remember if it
was osteosarcoma but I'm assuming so).
 
The answer is *please* don't feel that there was some way you should have
known.  It's easy to think so when you see a tumour has caused so much damage
-- it's only natural you'd think you must have missed something.  But for
your peace of mind and future reference, osteosarcoma is one of the most
incidious cancers there is -- it just sneaks up on an animal (or person) and
the only way for an owner to notice is if there's enough of a bone mass for
there to be lots of swelling or if the animal starts to limp.  The trouble
with osteosarcoma is that it is often a `lytic' lesion -- it destroys bone
rather than actually creating the mass we usually associate with a tumour.
So until the animal starts to limp, we have no way of knowing -- and in a
very stoic animal that may not happen until there's been just way too much
damage.  If it *is* caught early enough the limb is usually amputated and
chemotherapy administered to prevent recurrence or metastasis, but it is just
a really tough cancer.  I feel for your loss -- please don't feel there was
anything you should have done differently.
 
Laura
 
Laura L'Heureux Kupkee
U. of Illinois Vet Med Class of `96
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[Posted in FML issue 1155]