First Oncology Appointment Tomorrow

I am very excited to finally be able to say that Pheona has her first appointment with an oncologist. This is such a relief. I am not sure why the SPCA didn't refer us to an oncologist immediately, but rather kept us coming back over and over to tell us that they didn't know anything. Each appointment was them telling us to come back in a couple of weeks. When Steve made the appointment with the San Francisco Veterinary Specialists (SFVS) that was one of the comments they made too, that we should have called them right away.

It seems less swollen today than the last photo. The skin is even
a little wrinkly, last time it was tight and shiny.

  

I wish I had taken her somewhere else from the start. I didn't know what to do though, I foolishly believed that the SPCA would tell me where to turn next. I mean, most people wouldn't know what the next step is for any diagnosis of serious illness in themselves or their pets. Since they wanted us to see a different doctor when we came back for a check-up I think I assumed the second doctor would be a specialist. After meeting him I should have known he wasn't a specialist, he seemed to have less information than the first doctor.

Since she is seeing an oncologist tomorrow Steve went up to the SPCA today and got copies of her medical records. Looking through them I am even more angry. There is quite a bit of information in her record that they could have shared with us, things I specifically asked about and they avoided answering me. They said we could "talk about all that in more depth at your next appointment" when we asked questions, or just gave a blank stare and changed the subject. I guess I assumed they didn't know, now it appears they knew but I hadn't been fleeced for enough money yet to share the information with me. I don't believe they ever had any intention of referring Pheona to an oncologist either, they were discussing doing the surgery themselves in the notes.        

The first day we took her in and were told the lump was cancer they told us the first step is usually to remove the tumor. Unfortunately, they informed us that surgical removal probably wasn't an option for Pheona because of the tumor's location. It is almost touching her anus (which is why I censor the photos!). I asked if tail amputation would be a solution, she would look weird but she can live without her tail. They didn't even bother to answer, we just got that deer-in-the-headlights look for a few seconds before they changed the subject. Reading the clinical notes for that visit I find "Tail amputation may be necessary". Ummm... I had just asked that question! 

The clinical notes for the last appointment says that tail amputation is not recommended because of the location, same reason as they gave for not removing the lump. I don't know why they seemed to feel the need to withhold this information from me, I had asked this very question specifically and gotten no reply at all. This note also says that lump removal may be possible with a skin graft (something called a"pedicle flap") but to discuss it with me at the next appointment. I didn't think I could get any more angry with this hospital but apparently I was wrong. The only reason I can come up with for constantly withholding information "until next time" is to fatten up my bill. 

Tomorrow's appointment is $130 (!!!) but is 1 hour long. A whole hour with a specialist to discuss her diagnosis, treatment options and her prognosis (which the SPCA has rated as "poor to guarded" in the note but didn't tell us this). They will also answer all of our questions. I don't think we have spent a total of 6 minutes with any of the doctors at the SPCA and it has cost us $398.46. When broken down like that, the $130 seems like a bargain. Any treatments, procedures and medications are going to be extra, but I am really hoping to feel more informed and involved in deciding what to do next.

There is only one drawback that I can think of from switching to SFVS from the SPCA and that is the payment plan option at the SPCA. Whatever treatments that the SFVS vets recommend will need to be paid for at time of receiving the service. That means that I am really going to need a little help from my friends and kind strangers to make sure she gets the treatment she needs. Our fundraiser was able to raise up the cost of the initial appointment, but that is all, and that is just the beginning.

Please consider donating to help make sure the beautiful Pheona gets what she needs without delay. Any amount that you can spare will help! (Tomorrow I plan to discuss with SFVS the possibility of having cash donations for her bill come directly to them, I am sure that will make some folks feel a lot more comfortable that their money is going for what I said it is for). You can help by purchasing items on our wishlist on Amazon, it has items we need to care for Pheona that aren't purchased from the vet such as Benadryl, diaper pads, protective pads and even a bag of her special cookies to help take her mind off all this poking and prodding. You could also buy the wishlist items at your favorite store and send them to us (my mailing address is listed here or here). After tomorrow's appointment I hope to have a much better idea of what kind of treatment she needs and how much it is all going to cost. Until then, Pheona sends puppy kisses to all of her angels!!