Holly’s tumor is very aggressive too 
I saw a slight increase at 5 months to the depth of the tumor… now looking static again since the booster. There appears to be no set or predictable pattern when using Oncept. Things can just change…hence i am recording it all for you here !
Some positive news…Holly’s other tumors that are not as aggressive as the Parotid; such as the one under her dock and along her neck line have not changed at all since the beginning of Oncept. So the fact, they have not got bigger or changed either way; it is possible the vaccine is working. Particulary as the (two new) neck ones popped up the same time as the Parotid tumour.
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That’s good information! I’ve heard from some people who have used Oncept that they’ve done boosters every 3 months for the first two years to try to get ahead of some of those interval increases for the aggressive tumors. For me that’s not really an option financially, so I’m hoping that even if they just slow growth, the 6 month boosters will be enough to give him some longevity and comfort so they don’t take him over.
That seems to be the case with Goose too, in one area they’re aggressive but under his tail it’s still super slow growth, not much change but tiny ones still popping up. He goes back tomorrow for his 6-month booster, hoping they think it’s working! Eventually I’ll update my blog too but life has been hectic.
I just posted some thoughts from my attending vet in my ongoing Oncept thread… I think you’ll find them interesting!
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I’ll have to pop over and check it out!
In the meantime, Goose got a rave review from my vet yesterday so apparently I’m crazy and just have a warped view of what I’m looking at. She sees shrinkage in most, and any that are newly popping up are tiny and staying that way and she’s really happy with the stalling of growth considering his previous growth pattern. Renewed faith in Oncept after worrying about this for six months! Makes this vet bill more palatable…
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Thanks Oldernewbie for sharing your vets views on Oncept. It’s always so hopeful to hear how the vaccine is working on others. Great to also hear Goose’s melanomas are slowing or stalling. I rode Holly yesterday and had such a great ride. She feels well in herself. Always a good sign !
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Where are you located? Are you near a good vet school? I think you need a consult with a vet who has used Oncept with a number of horses - the vet could look at the pics and tell you what their experience has been with that degree of involvement.
I am so sorry for you and your horse - it’s just a horrible thing to have to experience for horse and owner both.
I am located in Colorado. Here we have CSU equine, and I am surrounded by vets who will administer the vaccine. He’s been to the hospital when he got a bloody nose and everything was explained to me, most vets just tell me they don’t have enough info on the vaccine whether it works or not. He’s been on Nublada’s cure by earth angel herbs for a year now and people swear that works too but it is also pricey. Everyday all I can think about is this my last day with my baby and it’s torture!
I have asked my vet if she’ll do a second opinion/consult with you. Stay posted, I’ll let you know what she says.
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Update; well we are nearly at the 1year mark documenting our journey ! with Holly’s second Booster due in March. Since the last Booster, interestingly enough Holly has been in season a few times, with no noticeable increase in tumor size. This is very good news. I was warned hormones can rapidly increase tumor size. I’m pleased to report there is no increase, phew!..hooves crossed may this continue !
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So very sorry to hear about your horse. We certainly can sympthasize. I would tend to ask your vets if they can supply recent studies which may cover larger tumors and the effects of Oncept on these. The vaccine has been around for a few years now so there may be updates and research sites which vets can access. Unfortunately, information on hand is hard to find. Trust me, i’ve spent hours researching !!! I am pleased to say it appears to slow or halt growth and my mare had a very aggressive parotid tumor which we have managed to stabilize.
So glad to hear of Holly’s positive reviews!!
To add to the positivity, Goose had his 6 month booster in December and the vet was THRILLED that all melanoma on his penis and under his tail are unmeasurable. They are still present, but are too small to get a read on. Any large ones have shrunk and new ones don’t seem to be popping up.
Goose choked last Monday really badly (cue heartattack) but he is now doing great. The vet wanted to scope him to find out if he has any melanoma hiding internally, and gratefully there is nothing there and he was clear of both ulcers and melanoma in his stomach and esophagus. Absolutely thrilled Oncept is working well for him so far.
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So sorry to hear about your bout with melanoma, you have certainly found people who can sympathize with you.
As you can read in this thread, we’ve had quite a bit of success with Oncept. My horse was diagnosed last year, had to have a huge melanoma removed from his penis and we started Oncept this past June. I’m having Tryon Equine in North Carolina do his series and they’re really pleased with the results so far.
You’re the only one who can make that decision for your horse, but a few questions I’d ask myself in your shoes, or rather questions I asked myself, were what’s his age? Quality of life? What’s his logevity as a riding horse, or is he a retiree that I just want to keep sound and comfortable? What does this huge cost mean to me, can I live comfortably and take care of my animals while paying this bill?
These are questions I ask myself about every vet procedure my horse needs, but I found them especially important for Oncept. Again, this is all my PERSONAL journey and only you know the right answer for you and your horse. But Goose was young enough, fit enough, and talented enough that I felt I needed to do right by him and try Oncept. I was lucky that I could manage the money, though it was and is very tight for me. If he were older, retired, or had such severe melanoma as you describe near his gutteral pouches, I don’t know that I personally would have paid for that.
Hang in there, and keep posting here to let us know how you and your horse are doing!
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Round two of Booster coming up ! The melanomas are looking no bigger but no smaller. No accelerated growth since the last booster. Is it just the way some tumors are ? luck ? or is it the Oncept ? Time will tell !
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Good luck, Holly01! I feel the same way with Goose’s - are they bigger? Smaller? The same? Is it Oncept? Is it just luck? Am I blind and they’re actually ginormous or tiny? Am I just a crazy person?
I think we can only answer my last question with any certainty! :lol:
Looks good Holly01! Hooves crossed for continued remission!
Woohoo, looks good Holly01! Hoping for your continued success with Oncept!
This entire discussion has been very uplifting for me. I am now looking into this for my horse but I have a few questions for whoever may have the answer. My horse is older. He is 21 this year and his tumors (mainly on/around his anus and under his tail) are much more advanced and aggressive. 5 years ago he had a tumor on the inside of his anus removed and a vaccine made out of it to try and fight the tumors. He has been on these vaccines every six weeks since then. He has now run out of shots and since stopping the vaccine his tumors have grown significantly. Has anybody had any experience, or heard of any, where oncept was not the first line of treatment ? My concern is that since his tumors are more advanced that oncept will not effect it the way it has with other. Praying it helps my boy ðŸ™ðŸ» Any insight would be appreciated! Thank you
@JustASaint I have a long experience with Oncept. My suggestion for you is that you contact a vet in your area who has used Oncept for a while and ask them what they think. If you don’t know a vet that has used Oncept, let us know where you are and we can go from there.
Hugs, it’s a horrible affliction for our poor gray horses!
