"Pet Mic Monday" is a new Dogvocates series based on an "open mic concept" where pet parents take over our blog to raise cancer awareness by discussing their pets diagnosis, treatment, and outcome with a worldwide community. This week, we are proud to feature Newman: A French Bulldog who has been living a cancer stricken life without a scapula for the past 256+ days. [Follow Dogvocates on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter]
Name: Newman @newmangusfrenchies
Nicknames: Bug, Buggie, Newmie
Breed: French Bulldog
Gender: Male
Born: 4/8/08
Gotcha Day: June 2008
Location: Boston, MA (Southie to the locals)
Diagnosis: Osteosarcoma of the right scapula (shoulder blade)
Treatment: Surgery to remove his right scapula (shoulder blade), 6 chemotherapy treatments, 4 immunotherapy treatments (& counting), and immunotherapy vaccine booster
Treatment Facilities: Dr. Matt Cleveland (surgery) [Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners ] & Dr. Kim Cronin [New England Veterinary Oncology Group (N.E.V.O.G.)]
Newman was born on April 8, 2008 in a puppy mill. He was underweight and his ears weren’t standing up. The pet stores didn’t want him so to auction he went. Furkidsrus (rescue operating under the 501C of OBTRS) stepped in to remove him from the cycle. I found Newman on Petfinder and adopted him in June 2008. He was sweet from the start.
Right before New Year’s Eve 2017, Newman was in a lot of pain. Our regular vet was unable to diagnose the problem since Newman is so stoic. There was never any whining or wincing from his exams. After two visits and some medication without improvement, we were told to go and see an orthopedist. We went to Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners on Jan. 8, 2018. I remember this day with tears as we received news that no one ever wants to hear - cancer. I broke down and Dr. Cleveland, the man whom I just met not even an hour ago, was comforting me as I sobbed uncontrollably. Newman had a tumor in his right scapula and it was osteosarcoma, aka a death sentence. Not only was this an aggressive cancer, but it was rare in French Bulldogs and the location was even more rare. Almost all osteosarcomas occur in limbs of bigger breed dogs.
Newman went in for surgery on Jan. 15, 2018. Dr. Cleveland told me that right after he removed the tumor from Newman all of his vitals increased. That was how much pain that tumor caused him and how much stress his body was under. I was surprised how his body healed. It took him a few weeks before he started using his leg again.
Original prognosis was maybe 286 days if he had surgery and chemo. Newman had his first chemo treatment on Jan. 31, 2018 and the countdown in my head began. I wanted to enjoy the time I had with him, but in my head every day I had with him was one day closer to day 286. It was explained to me that 6 treatments is what they do because more is not necessarily better and in this case, 6 is optimal due to how it affects the bone marrow. Before the 3rd chemo treatment, chest X-rays are needed to see if the cancer has spread. Osteosarcoma is microscopic so it is spreading unseen which is what the chemo is supposed to combat.
Newman at his last chemo treatment
Before the 3rd treatment, I couldn’t sleep and feared the worst. With my heart in my throat, I waited to hear the results that I prayed for - that the scans were clean and that we could continue on with treatment. And that is how every treatment went after that. Heart in my throat followed by the news I prayed for. At the 5th treatment visit, I asked Dr. Cronin about Opdivo and said that I couldn’t be done after the 6th treatment. I was exhilarated to hear that Dr. Cronin wanted to talk to me about an immunotherapy vaccine that was being safety trialed. She gave me the clinical cancer research paper on an immunotherapy vaccine trial in canine osteosarcoma and said she was going to see if he qualified. Now I waited with my heart in my throat again waiting to hear.
“This time, we had a bit of a curve ball.”
Although Newman did not qualify for the trial since he was not a limb amputee, Dr. Cronin petitioned on behalf of compassionate care and was able to receive the vaccine to administer to Newman. Jubilation! We weren’t done! We could continue the fight! Newman had 3 immunotherapy vaccines and then just recently had the immunotherapy vaccine booster. We believe that this was the game changer.
“We surpassed the original prognosis of 286 days! Every day is a gift with Newman. He is our sunshine.”
Fun Fact: Years ago, we forgot to latch his crate shut when we left for work. I opened the door to find one of his blankets in the sun patch and the other one in front of our other do, Gracie’s crate. I imagine he tried to bust her out which is why her crate was askew. When he couldn’t get her out, he put one of his blankets in front of her crate so he could lay by her and the other one in the sun so he could catch some rays. Priorities!
Hobbies: Sunbathing, sleeping, cuddling
Favorite Pastimes: Car rides & going on walks
Favorite Foods: Cheese, pizza crust, hot dogs
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