It’s time to celebrate! Phoenix, 4-year-old Saint Bernard/Shepherd mix, has reached the one year mark of being cancer free. To honor Phoenix and this momentous occasion, the San Diego Humane Society held a party filled with dog-friendly peanut butter cake, party hats, plenty of cheers, and lots of hugs at the Pilar & Chuck Bahde Center for Shelter Medicine in El Cajon, California.
Phoenix arrived at the San Diego Humane Society as a stray in November 2020. She was malnourished, covered in fleas, and missing fur. Following an examination, she was diagnosed with TVT (Transmissible Venereal Tumor), a malignant cancerous tumor.
Despite being very serious if left untreated, Phoenix was diagnosed early and began receiving Vincristine chemotherapy. After 13 treatments, the size of the tumor began to decrease, but further treatment was needed. Dr. Colleen Tansey from VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital volunteered to provide electrochemotherapy for Phoenix, commuting twice to San Diego on her days off to give the dog this treatment free of charge.
"Sometimes it truly takes a village to help the animals, and that's exactly what happened in Phoenix's case," Danielle Clem, DVM, and the hospital director at San Diego Humane Society's San Diego Campus, said in a statement. "Not only did we have an expert come from Los Angeles to help us, we had an incredible foster family who made sure Phoenix was comfortable in between treatments and the entire medical team at San Diego Humane Society involved in his care."
Following her cancer free diagnosis, the pup was adopted by Colette Troughton, a veterinary assistant at San Diego Humane Society, who helped put on the pooch's anniversary party. "Phoenix is a big dog with an even bigger personality," said Troughton. "He inspires me to see the good in everyone, and I feel so lucky to get to spend my days with him. I am forever grateful for all the caretakers that showered him with love and made his recovery possible.”
Congratulations to Phoenix on being one year free of cancer and thank you to all the medical professionals that helped Phoenix see this day!
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