Clinicopathologic Conference
Senior Case Presentation
The Scott-Ritchey Research Center at Auburn University is currently offereing clinical trials for veterinary patients with cancer. They are partnering with the Oncology service at Auburn Univeristy Small Animal Teaching Hospital. During my oncology rotation I was fortunate enough to work with Roofus and his amazing owners. Roofus had osteosarcoma and his family wanted to give him his best chance at survival so they entered him into Dr. Bruce Smith's clinical trial (March 2015). The trial is aimed at utilizing a vaccine to target metastatic osteosarcoma cells and rid the patient of disease after the primary tumor is removed.
His owners had traveled far from home and were unable to stay with him. I took great pride in caring for Roofus and was honored by the gratitude that his owners gave me. I kept them updated daily and sent them pictures and videos during his 11 day stay at the hospital. I knew it was hard for them to spend so much time apart when they did not know how much time he had left. I was happy to do anything I could to comfort them while they were apart.
Roofus went home and continued chemotherapy at an oncology center close to home. Unfortunately Roofus suffered from an embolism shortly after his second round of chemotherapy. In communication with his owner, she told me " It is my hope that Roo will in some way have contributed to finding a cure."