A Veterinary Journal by Claire Poole
March
Chapter 3 - Page 11
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Thursday 26th March
Thursday 26th March
A welcome phone call from Jude’s owner this morning - Cath is thrilled at how much better the dog is. Today, she pinched the cat’s food and chased a rabbit. Progress is definitely being made!
Today will be a day of phone calls. First, Moss’s results are faxed to the surgery. Unfortunately, the diagnosis is a splenic haemangiosarcoma - a nasty malignant tumour which has a high risk of spreading to other organs. As cancer medicine advances so rapidly, I consult a recent textbook to find current thinking on treatment options and am amazed to find chemotherapy mentioned in connection with this type of tumour. I need more information so decide to discuss the case with a cancer expert based at one of the veterinary colleges. We are very lucky to be able to speak directly to international experts at the forefront of their subject, but getting connected often requires much patience and tenacity. The day goes something like this:
11 a.m. First call - specialist is giving a lecture, try 12.30p.m.
12.30 p.m. - involved with emergency, try in half an hour.
1.00 p.m. - still involved with emergency, will call me back.
I am now condemmed to remaining close to the phone for an unknown period. Unfortunately, I have certain other things to do including a visit and, hopefully, a short dog walk. Indecisive, I busy myself with paperwork until 2.30 p.m., hoping that my quarry might go to lunch then call on her return ... but no luck. Trying to second guess prospective callers is a difficult business and it is amazing how many will actually ring during the one half an hour in 24 hours that the phone is not manned directly. I decide to go on the visit, and dash home afterwards. I half expect a message on the answering machine effectively putting us back to square one, but no calls are recorded. The afternoon wears on, as I ignore the dogs’ increasingly pointed hints about walks - it will soon be time to leave for evening surgery - please ring before then or I’ll have to go through the same procedure tomorrow.
AT LAST ! Our expert rings at 4.15 p.m. and makes up for the delay by being exceptionally helpful and informative. Chemotherapy is possible for this case, but the results are generally poor. The treatment is expensive, requires repeated stays at the surgery and can cause unpleasant side-effects. At best, it might increase the average survival time from 3 to 6 months. I don’t expect Moss’s owners to opt for treatment, but relay the information so that they can decide for themselves. During evening surgery, they phone back with their decision - not to attempt chemotherapy. It is difficult to imagine that the rapidly recovering Moss may only have a few months to live; at least it will be a good few months as his owners resolve to thoroughly spoil him in the time he has left.
Copyright Claire Poole 2005
