Emergency - Cancer

[Damien Marchese]

Dear all,

Yesterday we received the shocking news that our Guinea Pig Charlie has an aggressive bone cancer which on x-ray appears to have eroded 50% of his facial bones. There is a very small chance the destruction may be due to a chronic erosive infection, and though advising we put Charlie to sleep in the next couple of days, our vet did say that we could possibly consider sending him for MRI investigation to rule out infection, though in his opinion its almost certainly cancer. As you can imagine we're devastated. In my heart I know there's probably nothing we can do for him, but he hasn't given up yet, and if there was any hope that Chemo might work and leave him with some quality of life we would explore it. At the very least we feel we would like to have an urgent MRI, especially as on searching it seems there is a less than 1% occurrence of bone cancer in Guinea Pigs, so perhaps there's some hope its something else. As such I was just writing to ask if anyone knows of an experienced oncologist / exotics vet in or around the London area that might be able to help?

Thanks,

Damien

 

[helen105281]

This vet has an exotics department and comes highly recommended:

http://www.rvc.ac.uk/BAH/BSAH-vet-in-camden.cfm

However, for me quality of life is key and keeping his pain levels under control. What pain relief is he on? If his pain cannot be controlled then I would make the decision. See what the vet says when you speak to them of course.

 

[Stewybus]

I've also been told about Anne Taylor at http://s279208454.websitehome.co.uk/ewellstaff.htm

The Camden one above was also mentioned as was Nadene at the Royal Veterinary Hospital Camden (Beaumont Hospital)

Good Luck.

 

[Wiebke]

HUGS!

I am ever so sorry for your shocker of a diagnosis! Please make sure that your boy is getting pain relief as either cancer or infection is very painful and you may need to take his continuing quality of life into consideration when making any decisions. It is not at all easy when your head and heart are so badly torn and you are still reeling from the bad news.

My dad died from bone cancer, so I know only too well just how bad the pain can be.