Renee,
I'm so sorry to hear about Bear, and I'll be waiting on pins and needles
with everyone else to hear what the Oncologist says. There is an article
about histio on my website, you can read it here:
http://www.jersey.net/~mountaindog/berner1/
There is not currently any tumor submission process for UC Davis. There
had been one subsidized by Berner-Garde, but due to circumstances beyond
anyone's control, the arrangement was canceled.
There is a tumor registry with GDC, and that and an eye registry are the
only registries they are currently maintaining. To submit the
information about an existing pathology report, you can find the form
at: http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/gdc/Tumorfm.htm
Do not attempt to submit any actually tumors, only the tumor registry is
being utilized currently. (option 3, to submit an existing histopath
report)
There is a study that is currently underway at Fred Hutchinson Cancer
Research Center in Seattle, Washington. They are working to find the
genes responsible for malignant histiocytosis and cancer susceptibility.
Here is the information for participating in that study:
--
Genetic Research for Genes related to Cancer Susceptibility.
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is trying to find the gene for
cancer susceptibility, and is using blood drawn from Bernese Mountain
Dogs that have been positively diagnosed with histio - either systemic
or malignant. They still need more samples for their work. They need
samples from dogs that have had or (will have post-mortem) a positive
diagnosis made. They are also very much in need of control samples
from Berners over the age of 10 that have not been diagnosed with
histio. (But. We have found that this does not mean that the dog will
never get histio, so necropsy for these dogs is also important. They
realize this may not be for some years after the sample donation!) I'm
sorry, I know I sound very cold hearted here, but in order to look for
genes, they need to know these diagnoses positively! The control
samples are very important to the success of the study, and will be
greatly appreciated!
Information on this study and other studies will be posted at
www.bmdca.org in the health section. Instructions for submission of
blood samples for this study are:
1. request a free blood collection kit from Kenine Comstock or Heidi
Parker in Elaine Ostrander's lab Please email both Kenine and Heidi
([EMAIL PROTECTED] and [EMAIL PROTECTED]) or call (206) 667-6980
to insure that a kit is sent to you as soon as possible.
2. Follow the enclosed instructions:
a. Have your vet fill the tubes with blood
b. label the tubes with dog's name, breed, sex, age, owner's name
and phone number, and include a pedigree and relative health
information.
c. use the enclosed mailing label
d. mail it priority mail to FHCRC
e. call or email them to let them know it's on its way
--
I'll try to help in any way that I can, which never feels like enough. I
also have the blood collection kits for the FHCRC here, so if anyone
does need one, I can mail them out priority mail as well.
Please hug that Bear for me, and I'm sorry I didn't see your post
sooner!
Pat Long, with loving memories of Hannibal
Berwyn PA
