Palladia a new med. for mast cell tumor

MySoulmateEmmy

Emmy has mast cell and am wondering if it would be worth it to ask the vet about this medicine. she was diagnosed a few years ago and keeps growing the fatty lumps but maybe it will keep the MCT at bay longer? she had a fairly good prognosis of living 3 yrs or more (at the time she was diagnosed) because the margins were clean and especially if we remove any more lumps like it and is on benedryl daily.

what do you think? (a few different articles about it say kinda the same thing overall.)

FDA: First Drug to Treat Cancer in Dogs Approved


Palladia (toceranib phosphate) approved for treatment of canine mast cell tumors


FDA approves Pfizer's Palladia to treat mast-cell tumors in dogs - DVM


~MSE

Zim

bolo has grade 3. heck yeah im calling my vet TOMORROW! thanks!

Mikey

It's ALWAYS worth asking your vet Even if your vet goes 'nope' Totally worth it

*fingers crossed*

apbadboxers

I was discussing Palladia today with my Boxer's oncologist. She was diagnosed with lung cancer 18 months ago and it now seems as if her tumors are showing unresponsiveness to the daily oral chemotherapy we've been treating her with (mind you -- they gave us six months, on the outside, and she's going on 18-plus).

Turns out that Palladia may also be effective against a variety of cancers -- notably carcinomas -- other than mast cell tumors. For a variety of reasons (read about 'em here), I've opted not to go this route.

But here's the interesting thing... Palladia is not yet commercially available, but is instead available on an "expanded access" basis through veterinary groups with established oncology practices. What this means is that you may be able to get Palladia free-of-charge -- though there might be a minor dispensing fee -- until the product is officially launched. My Boxer's oncologist wasn't sure what the price of Palladia was going to be, but reckoned it was going to be somewhat expensive, given that it's a new drug... the first-ever anti-cancer agent developed specifically for dogs.

If you're considering Palladia, don't delay... see if your dog's oncologist has access to it and, if so, if its possible to take advantage of this low-cost window. From what I understand, the drug will be officially launched in early 2010.

MySoulmateEmmy

emmy's annual vet appt is set for january, i was hoping to discuss it with the vet then. maybe I'll make her appt. a tad earlier in case.

~MSE

apbadboxers

Here's a link to the information that my Boxer's oncologist discussed with me today. Never hurts to arm yourself with official documentation -- as opposed to I-heard-it-in-a-forum hearsay -- when discussing options with your own provider.

Certainly wouldn't hurt to call your vet's office, before rescheduling your appointment, to see if they're in a similar position to provide free or low-cost Palladia until the product is commercially launched.