This morning we met with the oncology team at BluePearl, and I wanted to share an update with all of you who have been following and supporting us.
The oncologist began by telling us something we hadn’t heard yet: certain bacterial infections can sometimes present similarly to osteosarcoma on X-rays. While this isn’t likely in Dior’s case—since he hasn’t had any trauma to the area and shows no other symptoms—there’s still a small chance. She took the time to ask about our travel history and daily routines, just to be thorough. I really appreciated that.
She explained that there’s about a 90% chance the cancer hasn’t metastasized, but even with amputation and chemotherapy, it’s more likely than not that the cancer will return. There is no cure for osteosarcoma—it’s one of the most aggressive and deadly cancers in dogs—but we are still exploring every possible way to extend both the quality and length of Dior’s life.
We discussed ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy, and I was so relieved when she told us she would be more than happy to go through the necessary training if that’s the route we pursue. That kind of support means everything.
We were also given some financial insight today:
Amputation surgery is estimated around $7,000
Chemotherapy (4 rounds) is about $1,000 each
She said she’d reach out to ELIAS for more information so she could provide a full cost breakdown for that treatment path.
She wanted to do chest X-rays today, but they would have required sedation—and with our appointment at Texas A&M tomorrow, she advised waiting. They may be able to use their large animal (horse) X-ray machine to do the imaging while Dior stands, which means no sedation required. That also gives me more peace of mind knowing his cardiology team will be on-site if any anesthesia becomes necessary.
Everyone at BluePearl was incredibly kind. Multiple staff members commented on how handsome and well-behaved Dior is, and I honestly couldn’t be prouder. He was calm, sweet, and strong the entire time. Being his mom is one of the greatest honors of my life.
This is hard—beyond hard—but I’m trying to take all of the anger, fear, and heartbreak and turn it into strength for him. Because I love him more than I can put into words.
We head to Texas A&M tomorrow for a full diagnostic workup, and I’ll share what we learn soon after. Thank you for being here, for giving, for sharing, and for holding us up. Your support continues to carry us.
With gratitude,
Haley, Dior & Family
Leave a Reply