In May 2025, at 10 months old, I found a large mass on Archer’s upper jaw. I immediately rushed him to his local vets, his demeanor, appetite and energy levels were all normal, however the mass was considerably large and noticeable from the bridge of his nose.
After further investigation, and consulting with his local vet, Charmhaven Vet Hospital, an x-ray and biopsy were performed to better understand what the mass was. A week later, we discovered the heartbreaking news that the mass was oral squamous cell carcinoma, but were given hope that with early intervention and surgery, it could be cured. On the same day, Dr John Blaxill fit Archer in for an oncology consult, performed further imaging and conferred with Dr Tristram Bennett at SASH North Ryde. We decided that an aggressive surgical approach would offer Archer the best chance of survival, with the potential for it to be curative.
A few days later, the wonderful team at SASH North Ryde performed upper maxillary surgery to fully excise the tumour from Archer, removing essentially half of his upper jaw.
Recovery was intense, but surgery went well and tests revealed Dr Bennett got clean margins. Some accompanying lymph nodes were also removed and came back negative to microscopic cancer growth. To ensure the ongoing care for Archer, Dr Bennett wanted to have a repeat CT scan performed to check for potential cancer spread, 3 months post surgery.
In August, after the repeat CT scan, we were informed that unfortunately there was evidence of cancer spread to Archer’s lungs. Dr Blaxill said this only occurs in 15% of patients with OSCC, and there were options available to extend his life. Whilst median survival was difficult to predict and varies from case to case, it is around 6 months post diagnosis. Dr Blaxill recommended to start oral chemotherapy to extend his life, and ensure he has a good quality of life. He stated that the chemotherapy works in approximately 50%-60% of patients. A more accurate survival time would be discovered after 3 months of chemotherapy treatment.
Archer began his oral chemotherapy, and had a few bumps in the road, but with the ongoing care from Dr Blaxill and his amazing colleague Dr Spela Bavcar, we have found a regime which is working well for Archer. He is due to have his repeat CT scan in a couple of weeks, where we will determine if the chemotherapy is working for him.
Archer is living the best life, going on holidays, the beach and plenty of swims and walks! He loves giving everyone kissing, and cuddling up any chance he gets. We are making the most of the time we have left with him, it is a heartbreaking reminder to cherish every moment you can spend with your animal. The level of care received by the amazing team at North Ryde is unmatchable. They genuinely care about Archer, take the time to listen to my concerns, and find solutions to the best of their abilities. I cannot thank the team enough at North Ryde, they have enabled me to spend more time with my furbaby, and I will be forever grateful.
-SASH Central Coast NSW, SASH North Ryde NSW
