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Bubba Jones
 My dog is alive and cancer free because of Dr. Tracy LaDue.
In December of 2002 my bullmastiff was diagnosed with mast cell cancer. My regular vet immediately sent me to a specialist he thought was the best. He sent me to see Dr Tracy LaDue.
My husband and I have no children and Bubba is our baby. A lot of people, even vets, do not understand how you can feel so close to a dog. I may be a little prejudice but Bubba is a very special dog. When we took him in, Tracy was wonderful. She was very compassionate and explained everything we had in front of us. Every time I took him to get his radiation and Chemo he would just bust right into the back to look for her. I think she came to treat him as her own. When we discovered it was multifocal mast cell, I think she single handedly saved him. When we were ready to give up, she found a specialist in California to fly in blood platelets so Bubba could live.
Now Bubba is 2 years cancer free. He is spoiled rotten and I can't thank Tracy enough for all she did for him. And for us...
-- Carol Jean and Robert Jones
Kacee Snuggs
 In November 2002, we were preparing to leave on a Thanksgiving trip when I noticed two lumps in Kacee's neck. Kacee was then a 5 year old cocker spaniel. I immediately took him to our veterinarian where he was diagnosed with lymphosarcoma. Our vet explained that great success was being made to lengthen the lives of dogs with this type of cancer, even though it is not curable. He sent us to see Dr. Tracy LaDue and after learning all our options we decided to have Kacee go thru the treatment that Dr. LaDue recommended. Kacee started his chemotherapy on December 9, 2002. He went through 8 months of chemo including two rounds of radiation. He was such a trooper and in the 8 months only had side effects of nausea from the radiation. We were told 1st remission could last 10-12 months, but our Kacee will complete his 3rd year of remission in December of 2005. We are so thankful to Dr. LaDue and the wonderful care she gave our precious Kacee. He has gone blind during this last year, but he is happy, healthy, and very playful. Knowing what we know now, we could certainly make the same decision again. Kacee now has check-ups every 6 months and even though we know the cancer will return one day, we are so thankful for the added years we have had with him.
Casey Cobb
 When our dog was diagnosed with mast cell cancer in 2001 we were scared, nervous, worried and wondered what would happen to this very important member of our family.
Then we met Dr. Tracy LaDue and all of our fears, concerns and questions were answered. Dr. LaDue treated our dog as if he was a member of her family. On our first appointment with her, she sat on the floor and petted and kissed our dog! We knew we were in excellent hands at that point! Dr. LaDue took the time to discuss all of our options and answered our questions honestly and made sure we understood everything. She was always there for a shoulder to cry on or for a hug with great news. She would call us with updates and concerns and is a true professional – not only with her ‘patients' but with the ‘parents' of her patients as well. We are extremely lucky to have met Dr. LaDue and so are our four legged members of our family.
-- Barbara and Jim Cobb
Flash and Boo Fleischman
 Where to begin........go back 22 years ago to the first boxer that I belonged to as an adult. When Coco was about 10 years old my vet told me my boxer girl had cancer. Scary? Yes - and back then the general practicioner administered the chemo and hoped for the best. Fortunately the cancer wasn't very aggressive and it was a heart attack that took Coco from me at age 13.
I was left with Flash, my handsome boxer boy (who came into my life as a rescue at age 2) and later added Boo (another rescue), my beautiful white boxer girl - both had hearts as big as all outdoors and quickly stole those of Dr. Tracy LaDue and her staff when she was (to our very, very good fortune) practicing here in Tampa.
Flash was diagnosed first with a mast cell tumor on his ear. I was a wreck, Dr.LaDue gently got us all (most importantly Flash) through this and as fate would have it - several more tumor removals over the next 3 years plus a few other procedures that come with old age and just being a boxer in general.
A few months on the heels of my first shock of Flash's cancer, Miss Boo started feeling puny, had bloody stools, no appetite, and a general malaise. My vet overlooked the obvious until Boo was literally near death. At this point and only then did my (now EX) vet recommend sending Boo to Dr. LaDue where she was immediately put on IV's, kept through the weekend, and diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancer - a much more dire diagnosis than Flash's. Again, Dr.LaDue maintained a calm demeanor through it all. Without her I am totally convinced Boo would have died that weekend and, for sure, I would not have had the next year to love and dote on her.
Dr. LaDue never minced words, (only softened them), when it came to Flash or Boo's situation and was there every step of the way - monitoring their progress, adjusting medications, procedures, and protocols to fit their special needs.
She was always, ALWAYS, there to dispel my fears, which as anyone in this situation knows, are many. For this I will be eternally grateful.
Do not hesitate to contact me personally should you require further information regarding the abilities of Dr. Tracy LaDue.
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Sandra Fleischman
Spencer and Winston
Dettmers
 My name is Catherine Dettmers and I am the proud mom to two beautiful little Boston bull terriers, Spencer and Winston. In the winter of 2000 I noticed a small lump on Winston's shoulder. I had it checked by our regular vet who referred me to Dr. Tracy LaDue.
We first visited Dr. LaDue in January of 2001 and she diagnosed Winston with Mass Cell disease. She also discovered four other “suspicious looking spots”. All were removed and indeed all were either grade one or two mass cell tumors. Dr. LaDue started Winston on Chemotherapy. He responded well to it and was on his way to a happy healthy life.
It was a very stressful and traumatic time however Dr. LaDue's kindness coupled with her expertise got us through it. She explained every procedure step by step and in language I could easily understand!
We still visit every three months and because of the regular check-ups, if a tumor does pop up it never has time to develop past a small grade one.
Winston is a happy healthy boy and will live a long fun-filled life. I have no doubt that that is due to the extraordinary care given by Dr. LaDue.
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Catherine Dettmers
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