A bit more Buzz

So glad that you have had a little more positive news. Just keep clinging on to the words of your supervet. And as you say, at least you will have tried absolutely everything. Go Buzz!
 
KatPT said:
I love Kate and co, best vets I've ever had..they are all brilliant there. Your boy is in wonderful hands, everything crossed for him.
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Aren't they? Just give me such a sense of confidence that they're fighting for him. They're also feeding him far better than he gets fed at home - when he got back last night they'd offered a selection of different hays, feeds and treats to tempt him and cheer him up.
 
measles said:
Rooting for Buzz and sending support over the miles. Good on Puppy as well - as you say this can be a great place :)
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Indeed it can. Couldn't have got through yesterday without her, and it really helps to log on here and see how many people are rooting for him.

I'm currently obsessed with Ohio State University and their research on linear radiation therapy on these tumours....is giving me small glimmers of hope this morning.

http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=724388&sk=&date=&pageID=2


Clinicians at The Ohio State University (OSU) Veterinary Medical Center radiation therapy facility treat horses with a linear accelerator. Brachytherapy is not available. During the past five to seven years, the center has treated about 40 horses.
"I think radiation therapy is most useful for the management of head and nasal tumors in horses," says Eric Green, DVM, Dipl. ACVR (radiology and radiation oncology), clinical associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.
Most cases treated at the OSU facility have been quite successful. "Unfortunately, there is very little literature to determine what to expect in a lot of cases," Green says. "We're extrapolating a lot of the information we have from dogs, cats and people. I think we might have better responses in horses than one might expect for a dog or a cat, as the tumors may behave somewhat differently to the radiation therapy in horses."

Officials at WSU do a novel protocol compared with other facilities. Horses are treated twice a day. "Radiation therapy works very well," says Fidel, "and I often think it's sort of foolish that people don't consider the option a little sooner. Some horses have had a variety of treatments, each of which last only for a short time. But a horse is going to live for 20 years, so why don't you cure the problem with radiation therapy?"

Regardless of success rates, there are limitations, especially dictated by cost and the small number of available treatment centers with proper radiation therapy equipment. There are only six locations across the country where practitioners can send their patients for radiation therapy. Keeping a copy of the contact information for those equine radiation therapy centers is key.
"As an oncologist, we always tell people to just call and we'll discuss the case and let them know the feasibility of doing the procedure," says Fidel. "If you think you have a horse that's a candidate for radiation therapy, you should not only talk to one of the radiation therapy facilities, but also send photographs and digital images of the tumor area to assist the radiation oncologist in making the proper determination. Almost immediately, we can give an idea of whether it's treatable and what side effects there may be, etc."
 
Good luck, I so really really hope you get more good news as time goes on and you can fight the horrid tumour *hugs* for you both :)
 
***another snippet*** (sorry, these might get a bit samey!)

Just spoken to Kate the Wondervet, who has spent the day analysing the CT results, and she was 'pleasantly surprised' by the bony component of the tumour. Basically, what we didn't want was the visible element inside the mouth to be the 'tip of the iceberg', and there to be a lot inside the jawbone itself, because that would make radiotherapy much more difficult. And it ISN'T!

The majority of the iceberg is the visible mass inside the mouth which means when he goes under general anaesthesia tomorrow Kate is going to CUT! She will try and remove as much of the mass as she can by going in with long instruments through his mouth. This is good news - not only because it means there will be less tumour for the radiotherapy to go through but also that it will hopefully buy him time whilst the treatment is done - ie. lessen the element that will prevent him breathing and eating.

Whilst he is still asleep the first radiotherapy would take place, so that train will be in motion too.

He's comfortable in himself, and has made a friend opposite called Wilson (who looks like an older version of him).

I know it's not massive news but it's the first positive news we've had, so I'm holding on to it with both hands.

Now I'm doing Dryathlon so someone go and have a minor glass of celebratory wine for me please.

xxxx
 
Brilliant news, so pleased for u, fingers crossed they can cut oout as much of the ****** as possible and blast the rest into oblivion. Fingers crossed also for your insurance limit not being reached too quickly, hopefully with only the one op for cut and blast it should buy you a bit of breathing space. X
 
fingers and toes crossed for buzz. sounds like he is in the best possible hands and sounds pretty hopeful...lots of healing vibes to your boy and make sure you look after yourself so you are strong when he comes home....
 
Fingers crossed for you both. The vet school (and puppy who is a legend) totally rock my world, I really hope you get a positive result. I will cross everything for you.
 
meesha said:
Brilliant news, so pleased for u, fingers crossed they can cut oout as much of the ****** as possible and blast the rest into oblivion. Fingers crossed also for your insurance limit not being reached too quickly, hopefully with only the one op for cut and blast it should buy you a bit of breathing space. X
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Insurance are *touch wood* being pretty cool so far. I think my practice vet has set things out to them.
Thanks for your kind words xx
 
Oh fab news, I hope that surgery today goes well!
In a slightly gross fascination- if there any pics would be really interested to see them!
 
Surgery is done!

He is round from the anaesthetic, a bit groggy but complaining of being hungry apparently (that's my boy ;) )

Surgery went very well, a substantial amount of tumour has been removed, and the first radiotherapy has taken place. Today 'couldn't have gone better' (oh how I love Kate).

I know we're still on the back foot and the chances aren't great, but at least we've been given a chance to fight it now.
 
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