It’s been just a year and a half since Dayla Culp lost her sister Darcy to breast cancer. Now, another heartbreaking diagnosis has hit her family — this time for their dog, Clarice.
Clarice, a 6-year-old silver Labrador retriever that Darcy gifted to Dayla, was found to have a malignant tumor near her left wrist. The surgery would be dangerous, and amputation was often the suggested path. Seeking help, the Culps turned to Washington State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. There, a new treatment plan combined surgery, radiation, and a clinical trial with Seattle Children’s Hospital. This approach has not only left Clarice cancer-free but also holds promise for innovative immunotherapy options for treating hard-to-tackle tumors in both dogs and kids.
“Clarice means everything to us,” Dayla shared. “Losing her, especially after losing Darcy, would be too much.”
At WSU, the Culps learned that Clarice qualified for a clinical trial and jumped at the chance to participate.
“So many people in our families have had cancer. If we could help someone else one day — especially a child — that mattered,” Dayla said.
The trial involved injecting a special agent into Clarice’s tumor to activate her body’s T-cells. Just a week later, she underwent surgery to remove most of the tumor.
Soft-tissue sarcomas are among the most common cancers in dogs, making up about 15% of all malignant tumors. Approximately 95,000 dogs in the U.S. are diagnosed each year, and the prognosis can be grim; around 20% to 30% of cases turn fatal. These tumors often grow silently and can spread beyond visible edges, complicating their removal. Though early-stage sarcomas can sometimes be treated successfully, Clarice’s tumor was particularly troubling because it offered little surgical leeway. With an arthritic right shoulder, amputation wasn’t a viable option.
Dr. Janean Fidel, a WSU oncologist overseeing Clarice’s treatment, believed the surgical team could remove most of the tumor, with radiation therapy available to target what remained.
Clarice had her surgery just before Thanksgiving. By early January, she completed three rounds of radiation therapy. Fidel is optimistic about Clarice’s recovery and will continue monitoring her health to catch any recurrence early.
“When Clarice returned for her first radiation treatment, there was no palpable tumor. The surgery was a tremendous success,” Fidel said.
Now back in Okanogan, Washington, Clarice is her usual lively self. She happily greets Dayla and Jon each morning, showing off her favorite stuffed toys and reminding them when it’s breakfast and snack time.
The Culps are relieved to have Clarice healthy at home and hope what they learn from her treatment helps other pets and people in the future.
“We wanted to do everything for Clarice,” Jon shared. “And knowing it might help someone else one day made all the difference.”
