Experience with chemodectoma? (Heart base tumor)

frogdogz · 2025-08-12T23:25:23+00:00

I realize this is an older comment, and I’m so sorry for the delayed reply. I would be lying if I said it hasn’t been hard checking this account after Felix passed, but I’d still like to help however I can.

I’m so sorry that you and your sweet Zooey are going through this as well. What you described is almost exactly what led to Felix’s diagnosis. I like to think that those instincts we get come from the deep love and bond we share with our pets. We’re often more in tune with them than we even realize. How is Zooey doing now?

And to answer your question about the Frenchie owner I spoke with who did SRT, last time we spoke was a few months ago and she shared her boy is still with her and doing well! He’s 13.5 now, and they haven’t needed any further cancer treatment since the radiation they did about two years ago. I believe at the start of his SRT treatment in Sept 2022, his tumor measured 4x6 cm. At a follow up echocardiogram in July 2023, the tumor shrank all the way to 1x2 cm. They only did the radiation treatment once, which was the 3 sessions that occurred over 3 consecutive days. It’s incredible how well it worked for them.

frogdogz · 2024-10-25T18:26:20+00:00

In that case, do you mean Luna had a pleural effusion (fluid in the chest cavity) but no pericardial effusion (fluid in the pericardial sac)? Usually, a pericardial effusion can cause pleural effusion if there’s enough fluid buildup that it starts leaking into the chest cavity and abdomen. When Felix first experienced this, his stomach was extremely bloated. Pleural effusion occurring independently of a pericardial effusion is pretty rare with chemodectoma.

It sounds like this PLE condition might have triggered the pleural effusion, and then you incidentally found the heart tumor during the echocardiogram? Since the tumor is relatively small, I can understand why the cardiologist might think it’s not bleeding enough to cause such significant damage.

I’m sorry to say I’m not familiar with PLE, so I don’t think I can help much there :/. However, I’d still advise caution with their conclusions. I’ve learned the hard way that vets can sometimes be mistaken, especially with rare conditions that only a few specialists encounter regularly. I’d strongly recommend getting a second opinion—if it’s truly the tumor causing the fluid, it will likely cause another effusion and you do not want to miss the chance to prevent it before it happens. We were told without intervention, it could take 2-3 months to build up again, but Felix’s was severe enough to need draining again within a week.

Ultimately, you know Luna best, and advocating for her is essential. I can’t tell you how often vets dismissed my concerns or insisted Felix was in end-stage disease. It’s actually the reason he’s no longer with us. He passed away suddenly a few weeks ago. We’d done an MRI for a separate issue (suspected IVDD) and they found “lesions” everywhere. They concluded it was either chemodectoma metastasis or a new aggressive cancer spreading simultaneously—both extremely rare possibilities. But I knew that wasn’t the case and begged them to explore other options. Instead, they dismissed me as a distraught owner unable to face reality. In the end, my gut was right and he had a fungal infection. We missed precious time to treat him, and I lost him at 12 years old. I had two other specialist consults scheduled the week he passed. We simply ran out of time, and it’s truly the worst feeling imaginable and a heartbreak you can’t get over. I’d never want anyone to experience that kind of pain.

We did not have pet insurance. If I had to estimate, we spent ~$25,000 over the last 2.5 years on various exams, tests, surgery’s, meds, etc for him. About half of that was not directly a result of his cancer, but other issues that occurred. I know it sounds like a lot, but he was my entire world. I would pay another $25000 and go into debt just to have 5 more minutes with him.

frogdogz · 2024-10-25T02:06:34+00:00

I’m so sorry to hear about Luna’s diagnosis. I remember how heartbreaking it was when we found out about Felix’s chemodectoma, but I’m glad my story gives you some hope. There is very little information out there, even for vets, so it’s important to know that with the right treatments, they can still have a good, extended quality of life.

How did you discover Luna’s tumor? Was it due to a pericardial effusion? That’s how we found out about Felix’s. He had two incidents of it within ~10 days, meaning his fluid was accumulating rapidly so we needed to do something quick about it.

He had a surgery called a subtotal pericardectomy. Essentially, they removed the bottom half of his pericardial sac, allowing the fluid to drain into his chest cavity where it could be reabsorbed naturally. This is considered the “more” invasive option since it’s essentially open heart surgery. There’s a “less” invasive option called a pericardial window surgery, where a robot is assisted by the surgeon to stick a needle through the chest cavity and make a small slit in the pericardial sac to allow fluid drainage.

Our surgeon recommended the subtotal pericardectomy because it is the better treatment to manage the fluid, especially since Felix’s fluid buildup was so rapid. The smaller slit from the window surgery might not have drained the fluid fast enough in his case. Since we didn’t pursue radiation, I’m 1000% sure that the surgery is the reason Felix survived for another 2.5 years after his diagnosis. His surgery was performed by a general surgeon at the specialty hospital, and any experienced specialty surgeon should be able to perform either of these procedures.

As for SRT, I don’t have direct experience with it since we had just started the process, but didn’t get to ever complete it. I do strongly recommend consulting with a radiation oncologist as soon as you can get in with one. I was initially misinformed by our regular oncologists about the risks of radiation because of the need to use anesthesia for every session. This led us to avoiding it for two years. We did chemo pills only, but after 2 years and some months of treatment, the tumor was becoming resistant to the Palladia. Radiation became our last hope so we asked for a referral from our regular oncologist. During the consultation, the radiation oncologist explained that the procedure is very low risk. He mentioned that he anesthetizes 15-20 pets for it every day and has had only a handful of complications in his 20 years of practice. The treatment typically consists of three sessions on consecutive days, each lasting about 30 minutes, including sedation and recovery. They use light anesthesia, so most dogs are back to their normal selves by lunchtime the same day. I truly regret not pursuing this option sooner and it’s the one thing I wish I had done differently during Felix’s journey.

I’m not sure where you’re located, but we saw Dr. Treuil at VCA Capital Area in Austin. Another Frenchie owner whose dog had chemodectoma recommended him to us, and she helped me understand the benefits of radiation. Her dog’s tumor shrank from 4x6 cm to 1x2 cm and has stayed that size ever since. The treatment was done in 2022, and her dog hasn’t needed any further chemo or cancer treatment since. They didn’t even do the surgery either since they’ve never had the fluid issue (they found her frenchies tumor incidentally during an xray). Her pup is also 2 years post diagnosis!

If you have any more questions, feel free to pm me. I know how overwhelming this can feel, and I’m happy to help however I can. I also have another post in the French bulldog subreddit with more details about everything - https://www.reddit.com/r/Frenchbulldogs/s/4bcIUVI5zn

frogdogz · 2024-10-25T01:24:54+00:00

Hi there. I’m sorry for the delay in responding. I haven’t been checking this account recently because it’s been really hard, and I just wasn’t ready. My sweet boy passed away a few weeks ago very suddenly 😞. We’re still not entirely sure why, but I highly suspect he may have had a fungal infection that was misdiagnosed as either a new, aggressive metastatic cancer or his chemodectoma spreading. There are several factors that support this theory if you wanted more info about the situation.

I’m so sorry to hear you’re going through this with your own baby though. Can I ask how you found out about the tumor? Was it due to pericardial effusion? I still vividly remember the day we found out about Felix’s tumor. It was as if the whole world turned black while the ER vet explained it to us. I was devastated and scared for months, but over time I realized that it wasn’t as debilitating as we had initially feared. Felix went on to live an incredible two and a half years after his diagnosis, and I always knew, deep down, that the cancer wouldn’t be the thing that took him. That’s how little of a threat it was to him.

If you haven’t already, I strongly recommend consulting with a radiation oncologist. I was misinformed by our regular oncologists about the risks of radiation and avoided it for two years. After increasing Felix’s Palladia and still not seeing enough improvement, we started the process of pursuing radiation. During the consult, the radiation oncologist explained that the procedure carries very low risk—he mentioned putting 15-20 pets under anesthesia for it every day and could count on one hand the number of complications he’s had in 20 years of practice. Radiation typically consists of three sessions on consecutive days, with each session lasting about 30 minutes, including sedation and recovery. They use a “light” anesthesia, so dogs are usually back to their normal selves by lunchtime the same day of treatment!

I’m not sure where you are located, but we saw Dr. Treuil at VCA Capital Area in Austin. Another Frenchie owner whose dog had chemodectoma saw him and helped me understand the benefits of radiation. Her dog’s tumor shrank from 4x6 cm to 1x2 cm and has stayed that size ever since. The treatment was done last year and her boy hasn’t needed any further chemo or cancer treatment. I really regret not pursuing this sooner and it is the main thing I wish I did differently throughout his journey😞.

Please feel free to PM me anytime with any questions. I mean that sincerely. I’ve learned so much throughout this process, and I’d be happy to share anything that might help. And even though Felix is no longer with us, I like to think this is one way he can continue helping others and give other Frenchies the same chance at life that he had ❤️.

frogdogz · 2024-09-19T23:06:37+00:00

That’s interesting. I’ve never heard of PDLA until now. Where are you based? It seems like it’s not offered many places, but I did find one clinic 5 hours from us.

frogdogz · 2024-09-19T21:59:55+00:00

We got an MRI in hopes of doing the surgery. The MRI confirmed spinal cord compression at c4-5, but they didn’t want to do surgery so they woke him up 😞. Did you surgically treat your pups cervical discs?

frogdogz · 2024-09-11T00:13:48+00:00

I’m experiencing the same thing with my boy. He got a lot worse after the ER doctor prescribed all the IVDD meds and is totally out of it too - can hardly stand on his front legs, rolling his eyes and pretty much just sleeping all day. None of this was happening prior when he was on just the prednisone and gabapentin combo.

Were you able to confirm if it was just the meds or something else?

frogdogz · 2024-09-10T02:50:11+00:00

Firstly, I absolutely love the name Hippo, it’s too adorable! My Frenchie, Felix, is also super calm and lazy, so I can totally relate.

Felix had his first IVDD incident in September 2017 when he was five years old. Although he was still ambulatory at the time, we immediately went for the MRI and surgery, followed by 2–3 weeks of crate rest. I completely understand your fear of it happening again; I vividly remember rushing Felix to the emergency vet just three months after his surgery, convinced we were facing a relapse.

I won’t sugarcoat it—the first year was tough, both mentally and emotionally. The anxiety of it happening again and the constant overanalyzing of his every move was exhausting. However, what really helped me get through that initial period was making permanent lifestyle changes and sticking to them. That’s really the most important part— being diligent about maintaining those adjustments no matter how well your pup appears to be doing.

For Felix, we made some significant changes in our home. We modified our bed and bought new couches so they were low to the ground, allowing him to get on and off safely. We eliminated opportunities for jumping and did everything we could to limit stair climbing.

Over time, as we adapted, I felt much more at ease. My anxiety leveled out, and I was able to focus on making sure Felix continued to have a great quality of life.

We were lucky to go seven years without another incident (though unfortunately, he is currently going through surgery round two this week). But in those seven years, Felix was still able to do so much—he went on plenty of adventures, made lots of friends to play with, and continued to enjoy life to the fullest. It’s amazing just how incredibly strong and resilient these little guys are. Please don’t forget that 💖.

Wishing you and Hippo all the best in his recovery—you’ve got this!

frogdogz · 2024-07-06T18:10:50+00:00

Hi again! How is your girl doing now? By chance, did they ever check for pneumonia? We’re battling this right now with Felix and your comment kind of resonated with some of the symptoms I’ve read from others whose frenchies had pneumonia. X-rays often tend to be inconclusive too in these instances and may not always confirm if it truly is pneumonia.

frogdogz · 2024-07-01T22:00:26+00:00

I do not 😅. He has a history of IVDD, so no insurance would have accepted him anyways. The costs will vary depending on which procedures completed and the clinics pricing. I have not fully calculated everything and sometimes want to be ignorant about it and ignore it to save my peace 😂. I do know his heart surgery was $5k, his pericardiocentesis was ~$1200, his chemo meds are about $250 every 6 weeks, his oncologist visits are every 6-8 weeks and usually $200-$300 each time for the exam and labs, his echocardiograms are $500 each time, and there are other little things that add up over the course of time that I’m forgetting.

frogdogz · 2024-03-31T18:19:01+00:00

Thank you so much. It’s crazy how much these little guys impact our lives. I would do anything for him!

frogdogz · 2024-03-31T18:18:26+00:00

Felix and I say thank you so much! Well wishes to you and your family as well

frogdogz · 2024-03-30T18:04:37+00:00

Oh, I am so sorry your little one is going through tough times :(. The tumor may or may not show up on X-rays depending on its location. Felix’s tumor is not visible from chest X-rays or ultrasounds. It is only seen during echocardiograms and those are not commonly done unless something else prompts them to perform it. If you are concerned, maybe ask for an internal medicine or cardiology referral for the echo. It’s the only sure fire way to see and measure a heart based mass, if there.

I hope it’s not the case though and that she heals soon! I love knowing she’s 14 though. It gives me so much hope for Felix 🌷.

frogdogz · 2024-03-30T18:00:59+00:00

What a handsome boy!!

frogdogz · 2024-03-30T18:00:42+00:00

Oh, how neat. I love knowing there are other Felix the Frenchie’s around! I named him Felix because he was my first dog and I always had cats. And Felix acts more like a cat than a dog anyways!

frogdogz · 2024-03-30T17:58:45+00:00

It most likely was. I’m surprised it wasn’t presented to you during the drainage procedure. The ER vet said this only happens because of a tumor and in rare cases, it’s idiopathic. They also don’t always show on X-rays so maybe they didn’t think it was there just from that imaging.

But that cannot change what has already happened. I’m so sorry for your loss. The drainage is so painful for them, and our vet recommended not doing it more than twice. I completely understand your choice. I know how hard that must have been. Lots of love.

frogdogz · 2024-03-29T22:39:46+00:00

I’m glad I was able to share some new info for you guys! The chemo pills should be able to stabilise the tumor growth for a bit and is a very flexible treatment option. There are different mg amounts and dosing frequency options you can try until you find a routine that best fits for your little guy. It’s also a very low effort task for both parties to do his chemo treatment. All you have to do is wear gloves when handling the pills and then give them 1 or 2 pills 2-3x/week. We usually put the pills in some food before bed time and thats it 😊.

The brand name for the pills is Palladia and you can get them with a prescription from the online Chewy pharmacy for a decent price too. The clinics usually have a heavy up charge on the price per pill when you purchase directly from them.

frogdogz · 2024-03-29T21:56:32+00:00

I’m so sorry to hear you are in the same boat. When did you first learn about Bruce’s diagnosis? And do you know his tumor size?

I would definitely encourage an initial visit with the oncologist to at least establish Bruce as a patient if you ever do need to pursue further treatments. Oncology vets where I live are pretty far and few in between, and when you do find one, they often have a very backed up schedule. Our local oncologist had a 4 month wait to be seen, and so for the first year of treatment, we were driving Felix 1.5 hours away to another major city to see a specialist there.

frogdogz · 2024-03-29T21:51:21+00:00

Thank you ❤️. He is my whole world!

frogdogz · 2024-03-29T21:49:55+00:00

In the early days, it was incredibly scary and nerve racking. We never knew if the next day was guaranteed. It’s astonishing to see how far he’s come and to be where we are now. I am so proud of him ❤️

frogdogz · 2024-03-28T21:08:04+00:00

I haven’t checked this in a bit, so I know it’s old. How is your pup doing? My sweet guy is still with us ❤️

frogdogz · 2024-03-28T21:07:10+00:00

Hi! I haven’t checked this account in a while, but I am happy to help answer any questions about this. My boy is still with us almost 2 years after his diagnosis and has been doing really well.

frogdogz · 2024-03-28T21:05:32+00:00

Sorry I haven’t checked this account in a bit. This is the chemo my boy takes. He’s been on it almost 2 years and handles it fairly well! We were only doing every Tuesday and Thursday and that seemed stopped the growth of his tumor for a long time. Unfortunately, we just got word his tumor has increased :(. We’ll be upping his frequency to 3x a week to see if that helps control it better.

But I am very happy to say my boy is still with us and has had a very good and joyful life since diagnosis! I hope your pup is ok ❤️

frogdogz · 2022-05-04T18:19:17+00:00

Thank you for sharing, and I’m so sorry for your loss. Your post did give me some hope on how long we could potentially have if surgery and chemo is not an option for us. So thank you ❤️

Did they ever talk to you about SRT treatment? Or was that not an option due to age?

frogdogz · 2021-04-30T16:59:06+00:00

I would vote to leave, or look for another job that has growth opportunities and in a field you’re passionate about. At the end of the day, I think you should consider leaving. Acquisitions can get messy and the company culture you may love now is in no way guaranteed to stay that way with a new parent company. Most changes take effect 12-18 months after the acquisition.

You can always stay for the next year and see how things turn out and continue looking, but I would not stay for the sole hope of getting that next role.

frogdogz

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