Lymphoma- Calvin's Story

[IvyHall]

maybe some potentially good news… just maybe

Alright- here is a late september update.

He is now getting the valacyclovir twice a day, 1.5 tubes at a time and that is going well, and being handled entirely by my barn manager and trainer. I wanted to do this all myself but I believe they understand how important it is he doesn’t miss a dose and that they have been staying on top of it.

Its actually been nice to distance myself a bit from him. My schedule has revolved around him and his care since January of this year and I think its been good for my sanity to take a bit of a break. I haven’t had to take him to New Bolton at all this month (crazy, since for a while he was going twice a week) and I think we will make it into October before he has to return.

And now for the potentially good news. HIS TUMORS ARE GETTING SMALLER!

July and August were just horrible. Everyday new tumors were appearing the the old ones were getting bigger. The tumors seemed to stabilize about 2 weeks or so ago, and now, they are getting smaller. His vet clearly doesn’t want to be too optimistic with me and I don’t want to be too optimistic either, but I imagine this is a good sign.

Fingers crossed his tumors continue to shrink.

And for some fun, here is a short clip of him cruising over a 1.25m oxer like its nothing. http://youtu.be/g-rNGF6VEdI

[AKB]

Wonderful! Now is the time to plan for what is next in case the valacyclovir stops working. I hope this valacyclovir knocks the lymphoma out for many years, but I also know you are in uncharted territory.

Cal is an amazing athlete as well as a good boy. I am so glad he is doing well.

[CrowneDragon]

Yes! That’s awesome!!
Wishing continued success with mega-jingles.

[IvyHall]

AKB, You are right that I should be planning for what to try next, but I’m not. He has made over 20 trips to New Bolton this year (including 14 chemo treatments) and by the time we are done with the the 3 month valacyclovir treatment (at $80 a day) upwards of $40k will have been spent trying to save his life. If this doesn’t work, I’m throwing in the towel. Of course I’d put him back on the steroids to hopefully slow the cancer down and keep him comfortable but I seriously doubt I would be willing to do much more

[AKB]

Ivy, it sounds like you have a good plan. My daughter says that if the lymphoma recurs with her horse, she will not give him chemo again. He went through his initial course of chemo with no visible side effects. However, a second course might not be as uncomplicated or effective. Because she had access to meds at cost, I think the treatment cost was about $600. Even though cost is not a consideration, I think she will stick with her decision that there will be no more complex treatments.

I hope the valacyclovir does the job and gives Cal a very long remission. Keep all of us updated.

[SquishTheBunny]

Continued jingles for your boy! Like I have said before…he is very lucky to have you.

[IvyHall]

$600 for one chemo treatment? Wow!

Each drug we tried came with a different price tag but the woman who her lost her horse after the dox treatment said that each chemo treatment was averaging her $1700.

And since chemo never worked on my horse I doubt it would ever be suggested again.

I think that if the antiviral doesn’t work our last shot could be moving forward with the “vaccine” but I believe, due to quite a few factors (including lots of red tape on UPenn’s side of things) that it is unlikely to happen.

Fingers crossed Cal continues to improve, he goes in to New Bolton next week for a check up

[AKB]

Yes, I think the total for the complete course of chemo was $600. Sometimes, there are advantages to working for a rural vet clinic where the office manager is an expert at getting all meds at the cheapest price possible, and to being able to do the treatments herself. Of course, if my daughter needs to give him valacyclovir, I don’t think there is a very cheap generic. When there was no generic, buying it under the brand name, Valtrex, would have been prohibitively expensive.

You have given Cal a lot of good quality, extra, months of good health. I hope he continues to do well. I also hope that veterinarians become more willing to try to treat some horses with lymphoma. Enough horses do well, that owners should be offered treatment as an option

[Zuri]

Ivy Hall, so glad for the good news. I have been thinking about you and was hoping it was getting some better. Your sentiments are totally normal and it sounds like you just needed a break. Please let us know how his vist to NBC goes. Best wishes…

[IvyHall]

Good news from New Bolton today!

Some of his tumors are completely gone, the others are smaller, and there are no new tumors since his last visit!

Since he is the first horse to be treated with this specific drug for this disease (that we know of) in this manner the vets can’t really say that it is the valacyclovir that is causing his lymphoma to regress (apparently the general consensus over there was that this wasn’t going to work). This could just be natural waxing and waning that is often seen with his form of lymphoma. However, for me, the timeline seems to indicate that the the valacyclovir is working. The vets recommended another month of treatment and then he will go back in for another bump check and will be retested for EHV-5.

Cal continues to be his happy, energetic self.

In fact just last week I took my first lesson in a very long time. I wanted my trainer to see him go because he feels better than ever. The quality of his canter is just, well, awesome. He is so balanced and powerful (this has taken years to achieve). She agreed that he looks fantastic and his flat work is still improving.

This horse never ceases to amaze me.

[Polydor]

YAY! Glad you got some good news! He sounds like a fighter. Jingles for continuing good news.

P.

[AKB]

Wonderful!

[IvyHall]

October 2014 Update

Towards the end of october Cal went back to New Bolton for a check up. He had blood work done which all came back normal and his tumors were once again mapped and measured. Many were gone and the remaining were almost gone. He was also retested for EHV-5 and the results came back positive. He will stay on his current “treatment” dose of valacyclovir through November and then we will reevaluate.

While I had previously retired him from the show ring I have kept him in work, and with his improving condition I decided to show him again. We went and did the low jr/ao jumpers and it was by far his best performance as he was quiet, focused, responsive and very rideable over the most difficult courses he has faced. He was double clear (and 5th) the first day and I had one rail the second day (lost my stirrup, or thought I lost my stirrup due to a frozen foot and just got unorganized to a skinny which he barely tapped but it came down).

And of course I have pictures, including a pretty amazing “before and after” shot of some of his tumors on his hind end.

http://s1285.photobucket.com/user/ivyhall1/slideshow/Facebook/October%202014

[Chall]

Just want to say thank you for posting your experiences. No matter what the outcome it’s helpful to others. When someone has the (sorry) finances to fully explore treatments and pay for the diagnostics (big and small) it helps others down the road, and not just horses.
The EHV-5 link is fascinating and makes me think of the possible analogy to human lymphomas and links.

[IvyHall]

12/1/14 Update

[rcloisonne]

Aww… Hugs to you and Cal AND your wonderful parents!

[saffire_100]

He looks great and I’m so happy for you both!

[AKB]

Cal does look wonderful. I really enjoyed the photos of him with your daughter.

[CindyCRNA]

I have read thru this whole thread my emotions have run from jumping for joy to heartbreak to finally joy again! Thank you for your detailed journey thru this. I look forward to updates. Hugs to you both.

[Ghazzu]

Wonderful news.