Copy the method, not the drugs
The Method
This is the operating system around Oscar's oncologist-directed care. AI did not prescribe. It helped organize data, detect patterns, and prepare questions.
What to collect
CBC, chemistry, UA/sediment, UPC, blood pressure when relevant, thoracic radiographs, abdominal ultrasound, cytology/FNA, medication log, and daily owner observations (urine stream, appetite, restlessness, mobility, stool, sleep).
How to feed a report
Raw numbers alone are not enough. Include current cancer drugs, pain meds, antibiotics, supplements, appetite, vomiting/diarrhea, urine changes, energy, what changed in the last 24–72 hours, and what decision is coming next.
Standing questions
- What is worse than last time, even if still “normal”?
- Marrow, kidney, liver, bleeding, or GI risk signals?
- Does this change safety of the current protocol or any supplement?
- Call before next appointment — or watch?
- What should I ask my oncologist in one clean paragraph?
One-page oncology update
Template
Subject: [Dog] update / question before next step Current protocol: Drug names, schedule, recent holds, new meds. Clinical changes since last visit: Only the meaningful changes. Key objective data: CBC/chem/UA/imaging highlights, with trends. Main concern: One sentence. Ranked questions: 1. Highest-stakes safety question 2. Treatment decision question 3. Comfort/QOL question 4. Monitoring question 5. Optional supportive-care question Specific ask: What would you like me to do before the next appointment?
Worked example: platelet drop
During Palladia/olaparib, platelets fell sharply from ~430 K/µL to analyzer ~93 K/µL (smear ~130). Chemistry was stable; Oscar looked okay. Palladia was held pending recheck; platelets later recovered (~201 by week 5). The win was early visibility — not AI treating thrombocytopenia.
Worked example: culture gap → UA/UPC
“No growth” after antibiotics, with turbid urine and no UA documented, was incomplete. Follow-up UA/UPC showed marked inflammation (protein 3+, occult blood 3+, WBC >50/hpf, UPC 2.3 with sediment caveat). That changed comfort monitoring before trametinib.
One change. Then watch. Then re-measure.