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
