Story told by Debbie.

Hogan is about 6-7 years old and came from a rescue in N.O. LA. He was taken out of the N.O. shelter by this rescue and treated for HW and then was put up for adoption. If not for them he would be dead. I am still closely in touch with Leslie who rescued Hogan. So we too are going through this together. My previous 2 Rotties had passed and I wanted to do something in their memory for their breed so I had Hogan trucked down from LA to PA. Hogan was about 2 years old when I picked him up on Dec. 22, 2007! Hogan learned fast and soon was the model citizen of dogs of course protective of his home and family which you don't have to teach. He began to fill out and his coat shiny and became the handsome Rottie I knew he was!

Back in Aug of 2009 I found a lump on Hogans hip and the vet said it was nothing but I insisted after it did not go away that he check it. At this time Hogan was a young man so the vet thought nothing of it and was shocked when the biopsy came back as a Stage 3 Mass Cell tumor. We went to West Chester Oncology to Dr. Jeglum VMD one of the very best oncologist and does not mix words. She told us it did not look good at the metastasizing rate it was but upon ultra sounds found it had not spread so she put her own protocol of chemo together for Hogan. high dose of Prednisone along with vinblastine chemo IV, benadril and it saved his life. He was not sick during chemo only the Predisone at a high dose made him lose muscle mass but afterwards he got it all back. He is a over 2 year survivor of this and the percentage of dogs who survive this long is near 5%. Hogan was fine until this past June of 2011..
when he had a sore on his back digit...the vet said it looked like a deep pyoderma and gave us antibiotics and a steroid shot.
After about 1 week Hogan began peeing all over the house?? and constantly drinking water... I know this is a side effect of Predisone but it was a bit too much. Finally we did a urine test and he had a high sugar count. then upon verification of bloodwork for his sugar level it was over 500....so Hogan began insulin on June 25, 2011. He did very well with it at 2x a day and takes his Benadril and Cimetidine also 2x a day (he had been taking that since his mass cell tumor since the vet said it is a histamine blocker so we just continued with it.) the toe never healed with antibiotics and finally was biopsied and turns out it was a histiocytoma.. this was Aug. 2011. So we amputated the toe and thought he would be ok. The incision healed well even with the diabetes but Hogan started getting these little lumps inside his skin on the leg...again we thought it to be a skin infection and treated with long term antibiotics (chefelexin 500 mg) 3 pills 2x a day. They went away and we discontinued the antibiotics. I guess it was around Nov. that they started coming back and just got worse so he went back again to the vet and was treated with a different antibiotic (Cipro). this time it did not go away... then he had a couple sores on his back that popped with a guey pus and the vet thought they were epidermal collarettes.. well nothing was helping these sores and his leg still looked lumpy (kinda like a Sharpei's skin around the leg) but he had bumps in different places now also. So he saw the specialist in dermatology from UPenn. and he said it was cancer by just looking at it. He said it was a product of the toe but then also said that survival is only a couple months and it is now 6 months in? So we had biopsies done from 2 different sites on Hogans skin at Penn and it came back as disseminated histiocytic sarcoma. Our vet talked to a oncologist friend of his and she said with treatment of chemo which was a protocol of 3-4 weeks survival was 6 months with treatments. Hogan remains right now on 2 strong antibiotics and benadril and cimindine.

It has already been 6 months and although Hogan's skin doesn't look great..he is eating well, still pretty high spirited and if he didn't have these bumps and sores you would think him pretty much normal. We did a x-ray on Feb. 7th of his chest and abdomen and all was clear. I know they say this is a aggressive cancer. I also know the dermatologist told me there was a chemo pill that may benefit Hogan if the cancer had not spread to his lungs etc...but of course I was in denial when he was telling me that...(this was before the biopsies). He said it would not interfere with the insulin and that Hogan could not have steroids so this may be the best bet. I am waiting to hear from him and see what he says now. If he feels Hogan can be treated? If it would be beneficial to him? If he feels he would get sick from the chemo? How much time do they estimate with chemo? or does he think it is too far gone and I should just make him comfortable?

My whole thing is I will not put Hogan through a stressful situation if it will not be beneficial to us time wise...I'd rather him be comfortable home and then when the time comes do what needs to be done...I guess i'm saying I'd rather be crying than have Hogan in any pain!!! We all LOVE him so very much and it is breaking our hearts to go through this....it seems like a bad nightmare that I wish would just vanish but is not going to happen. Right now he is limping slightly on his back leg but only after a walk.

I just don't know what to do and am just waiting to hear from this vet....
I am also on the www.rottweiler.net which is a forum since 2007 and some of the people tell me there most dogs with this are very sick by now??? I guess I should just be thankful he is not... after reading your site and your kind email I know you know just how I feel!!!!! Thank you so much.....

UPDATE February 22, 2012
Biopsy reports are being sent to the doctor who I may have treat Hogan. He will look everything over and I will meet with him on March 3rd. This chemo pill is CNNU or something to that effect (givenevery 3 weeks). I am not entirely sure what route I am going to go until after I speak with him. My main thing I keep in mind is that I can not have anything interfer with his insulin... Right now my boy is eating well, high spirited and happy..... we play a game... and he knows it makes me smile. You know when you stop petting a dog they sometimes put their paw up to you for more pets? Well in Hogans case what he does is... if we are laying on the bed or couch or floor and I am petting him and I will stop turn my head and I hear his paw go up ever so slightly and then again until I laugh and pet him and then we go on again and again.... he is so funny...

UPDATE March 25, 2012
Hogan started the CeeNU chemo pill March 6th... due to the adamant advice of the specialist.... On the 13th his CBC showed the WBC were low due to the chemo which was a 90mg pill... and on the 20th CBC showed WBC were in complete normal range!!! All other blood counts were fine... On the 27th Hogan will also have a CBC and chem to check his liver.

He is doing GREAT! All his bumps are almost completely gone!!!! His large lesion on his back is 90% healed and the one on his stomach as well... I am still putting a wrap on his foot and that is healing very well too....I think by next week it should be well enough to keep off... I have actually been keeping it off for a day here and there and he is not bothering it much....
so all and all his vets say he doesn't just look good he looks fabulous! His attitude is high he is playing, running, eating, drinking, pooping, peeing normal....it feels so good to see him without those bumps and lumps!
His specialist said we are not talking survival because he has gone beyond that which is usually 2-6 months....we are talking keeping him healthy and well....he is a remarkable dog with a very strong constitution....... Why I really decided to do this chemo is the vet told me if it were his dog he would, since he believed Hogan has a very good chance since he is not sick now and if we did nothing he would eventually get sick and die....... I believe we have time...... and we are gonna make the best of it all!!!!!!

UPDATE May 29, 2012
Hogan is doing well... took his 4th chemo pill last Sunday. We did bloodwork prior and it showed all Hogans counts to be very good and the huge blessing was his liver count had actually gone down some. So it is slightly elevated which is how it would be with any chemo but not off the charts! He is happy, high spirited and I really am very thankful. It is a fight Mo as you know... it seems the bumps go away but seem to resurface if we wait to long to give him his chemo.. something I have been watching closely.. he is still the same weight 150. He did have a minor surgery on his muzzle since when the cancer was gone there he had scratched it raw from itching and when it healed he had a little button about the size of a pea and he banged it and it started bleeding and then each time he ate it would bleed so it is gone and Hogan is now smooth and healed from that..... we are 1 year in June into this hystioscarma which started with his digit being removed and I can say although it has not been an easy road we are fighting and winning so far...

UPDATE June 17, 2012
Hogans bloodwork was very good. His liver enzemes are only slightly elevated and actually going down since last month....one count went from 162 to 139. I have ordered his CeeNU 80 mg pill and will have it tomorrow...he is getting bumpy and what is so weird about it all is protocol for the pill is every 21 days and it seems that right at that point bumps start to appear...otherwise he is doing GREAT!!!!

UPDATE August 18, 2012
We had a bad episode with Hogan at the end of June a couple days after taking his CeeNU pill. He started throwing up twice a day and we tried to eliminate the problem by stopping his antibotics thinking this was the cause since the chemo never made him sick before. This lasted for over 2 weeks. Then one morning he threw up I can not begin to measure how much curling ribbon! He must have gotten into the basket I had on the diningroom floor I won at a fundraiser..ate ribbon, crinkle paper. Thank God he finally threw up BUT this basically left his body without chemo or antibotics in it and he took a large decline! He had ulcerated leasions and just did not appear well. He could barely walk... So we made the decision to put him down. I called his dad and told him he had to come home from work and then we took that fateful ride... silent and teary eyed. Our vet was waiting for us and wanted to see what was going on. When we got there he told us he thought he could turn this around, that Hogan had a nasty infection and of course we agreed! He also said not everyone would do what we were doing for Hogan.... So he spent the day in the hospital with fluids and liquid antibotics (Kefron), and went home with a port in his arm and horse size needles filled with this Kefron twice a day for 2 days and he wanted him to take his CeeNU chemo at 90 mg asap... So we did and he also started his antibotic again (Chefelexin 500 mg, 3 pills twice a day) after the Kefron was done and port removed.
He improved some..... It seemed the cancer had found an in and attacked the skin more now. Still we took Hogan home and although it was only 18 days into his last CeeNU treatment our vet wanted Hogan to have another dose 90 mg then and changed his antibotic to Batrim 960 1 1/2 pills twice a day....
We are now 3 days into chemo and 4 days into new antibotic..... Hogan seems to be slightly improving! I am not getting my hopes totally up but he is starting to get up and walk around more and eat standing up at his bowl (I was delivering his food for a few days). I know we are not out of the woods yet and this is a last effort to try to save his life...... We will not be selfish as I know we can take that ride as much of a heartache that it was... This now is about a very brave dog who has a very strong constitution and a love of life. He will let us know and our vet who is also a friend will tell us when Hogan is tired.....
He goes back Aug. 21st.
One more thing... he has not lost weight which I am so happy about....still a 150 lber!!! :) So far we are well over 1 year with this horrible cancer! I hate what it has done......

UPDATE August 20, 2012
Hogan seems to be doing well and look at him, he is more alert.... I have scanned his body and some of the smaller leasions have dried up! It is a start.....we will go see his doctor on Monday for consultation to see our next step, provided all is well until then.... he has alot going on and it seems slowly so far we are upward again.

UPDATE August 28, 2012
We are going this morning...since he was doing pretty good I wanted to wait 2 weeks for the new antibotics Bactrim 960 and the 90mg chemo to kick in some, so we could see hopeful progress..... Lesions are drying on the most part...but Mo this previous episode was pretty bad.... so baby steps and I will fill you in when we get back.....he is doing well on this CeeNU...

later that day
We just got back from our visit with Dr. R. He says the lesions although look better are still infected and he took him off the Bactrim 960 and back on the Cefelexin. I have to wash the lesions with a mixture of 1 tsp of salt to 1 pint of warm water and then put RestiCort(an anti-inflamatory lotion) on them twice a day. Chemo can be given in 21 days. He is happy with the results from that and is more concerned with this skin infection. Hogan is otherwise doing well and holding his weight and spirits. I told Dr. R. I wasn't certain if Hogan was going to make it from a little over 3 weeks ago and he told me "Debbie after all the years in medicine I can almost always tell if I can save an animal. If I had a doubt in my mind I would have told you." Debbie I dont know but we can try this and see what happens. If not we need to make some decisions".....after all these years of having him as a personal friend and vet I should trust him and I do.. Its just very emotional when it comes to your own.....
So I just got done wiping him down with the solution and applying the lotion. We go on........ I will order his chemo pill near weeks end and give it to him in 21 days 90 mgs of CeeNU. We were going to try a light steroid but with his diabetes considered not at least for the moment..... Steroids would help clear this up but not a chance at the moment we are taking......

The final chapter.....
After Hogans visit to the vet on Aug 21st he came off the Bactrim 960 and back on Chefelexin since Dr. R. didnt feel the Bactrim did much for him. He seemed a little better and his lesions were drying up some but new ones were taking their place. Hogan was making baby steps forward but seemed to have aged in less then a months time. Sometimes he would get up to eat and other times I would take his food to him. He was getting tired but still enjoyed his short walks and hanging with us. I would bathe his lesions still and it really didn't do any good. On Sept 1st I gave Hogan his chemo pill (which was the 20th day since his last) that was on a Saturday. Sunday September the 2nd he did not seem right and he was having labored heavy breathing all day and could not rest at night with the same. I sat with him and he calmed some but he seemed aggiated and just wanted me near him. I was so upset since I knew that something was just not right. ( Hogan always slept very peacefully even the last month and in no pain.. that is what counted to us.)
It seemed his lesions were leaky and his face seemed to have some hard spots by his eye and muzzle and on this body... Then on Monday he got up and cried when standing. Seemed it was from his shoulder. Still labored breathing but eating some and then gagging. He was not even walking right and I knew his body was breaking down and I would not let him suffer for mine or anyones sake. I said it long ago I would rather cry then see my Hogan in pain. I emailed our vet and told him and said if he was no better in the morning, I would call him and I would have made my decision and so would he once he saw Hogan. Tuesday morning me and his dad took Hogan to Dr. R. and he agreed. He believed the cancer had spread to Hogans chest, yes that quickly just like the leasions got worse in a short time.
Hogan layed on the table and I talked to him while he went into a sedated sleep and closed his eyes. His dad who had his hand on Hogans chest said he could feel something going on while he was breathing. Then Dr. R. came back in and gave Hogan the final and our beloved boy left this world in our arms. The words that come to mind are heartbroken.
That day we lost a very brave, strong boy who will never be replaced. The love between us could never be measured....

I know also that I got to have Hogan alot longer than what the statistics say with both cancers. Through all this Hogan remained strong, brave and not bothered by the cancer. His 1st cancer in 2009 stage 3 mass cell... he did so well with the chemo the oncologist said it would be in his best interest to do another round and we did. The metasizing rate of the cells were one of the highest they saw and he beat it!!!
Then this histiocytic scaroma and he was almost a 2 year survivor of this very aggressive cancer......

We love you Hogan and be a good boy and remember we all love you very much "Always"!
Until we meet again my boy.......

Be sure to seek the advice of your veterinarian about any question you may have
regarding your pet's health and behavior.
No diagnosis can be done without a veterinarian actually seeing and examining the patient.

DOG OWNERS SHOULD REPORT ALL CASES OF HISTIO TO THE BREEDER AND THE BREED CLUB!