Be Careful What You Read!!
ByOne of the difficulties dog lovers have is in getting good data about dog cancer. Sometimes questions surface after your visit to the vet or oncologist, and you may not be able to reach your dog’s doctor.
Logically, the internet is a good place to start.
You will find lots of information about dog cancer on line. However, not all of it is true, and some may lead to incorrect conclusions.
These conclusions can create false hopes by appealing to the need for a good outcome. Other times, deliberate paranoia or even intentional hysteria geared towards product sales is the goal.
You would be surprised what you find.
Suddenly, I have noticed a crop of Dog Cancer Survival Guide imitations popping up. Although it is flattering, I am concerned. None are written by an actual vet, although one “Doctor” is a chiropractor (for people). I mean, I have absolutely nothing against chiropractors (I have gotten my back worked on before), but…
It would be funny except that concerned dog lovers are taking advice that may not help, and could even harm.
I just read an article on the CBS News Health page about dog skin cancer. It was very surprising, considering the source. There were a few points that were quite misleading that should be cleared up.
For example: “.. mast cell tumors, are fatal if untreated…” This is not necessarily true. Here is an abstract supporting the fact that some are dangerous and some are not. There are very few grade 1 mast cell tumors that are fatal if left untreated. (Mast cell tumors are graded from 1 to 3, with some of grade 2 and all of grade 3 being particularly dangerous. For more on mast cell tumors, check out this week’s webinar by clicking here).
Here’s another excerpt from the same site: “Mast cell tumors:…the hormones estrogen and progesterone may also affect cancer growth.” This states that estrogen and progesterone affect mast cell tumor growth. Not true. This abstract shows that there is no link between estrogen receptors and mast cell tumor behavior in the dog.
This same “information” in the CBS News Health site suggests that spaying a female dog would be beneficial to dogs with mast cell tumors, to remove these hormones. False.
On the other hand, these hormones have real-life, measurable effect on mammary (breast) cancer in dogs which is well documented and common knowledge. Spaying does influence mammary tumor development in the dog.
So please be careful what you read!
All my best,
Dr D
About the Author
Dr. Demian Dressler, DVM is known as the "dog cancer vet" and is author of Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Beyond Surgery, Chemotherapy & Radiation. Visit his blog and sign up free to get the latest information about canine cancer. Go to http://DogCancerBlog.com.
4 Comments
September 29th, 2009 at 2:56 am
Hi Dr. D,
Reading your above posting, you could not be more correct on being careful about what one reads! We read many things on the net both during and after our Taz was put down. He had bone cancer.
However, I do not agree with your comment about chiropractors. Unless they have documentation of an actual course of study and hands on veterinary experience to go along with that study, they need to leave the treatment of animals alone, and go back to what they are trained to do, human treatment. If a chiropractor is practicing on animals without the professional levels of education that are required your local state veterinary licensing board or have approval from that board, people are taking chances with these chiropractors in letting them treat their animals. How do these chiropractors know what to do? Certainly, they just cannot read a book or internet material and say that they know how to treat animals. Unfortunately, we know this from our own situation. The chiropractor basically flat out lied to the both of us, right to our faces. Not only regarding his levels of knowledge of how to treat our dog’s cancer, and how bad the cancer was, but he and his wife gave us very false hopes. Further, for him to get his license here every year he signs an affadavit that states that he has read the rules and regulations of chiropractic, and our general statutes. In our state, he was and is not able to practice ANY type of veterinary medicine. Even if he does not charge for the visit, he is not allowed to treat animals. In our situation, it is a pretty clear cut case that this chiropractor had no idea what he was doing, and was very dishonest.
In closing, not only be careful in what you READ, but be careful in who you or your family members entrust the care of your four legged loved one’s!
September 29th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
My 12 year old Portuguese Water Dog has bone cancer. I have noticed lately that he has an odor about him. I don’t know if it is the pain meds “sweating” into his oily skin or if its something else. Has anyone had this experience?
September 29th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Will, I am sorry to hear this story. Awful.
I was reading your comment and realized you were thinking I was promoting animal treatments by those without the training. On the contrary, I agree with everything you pointed out. My admission to having my own back adjusted (which makes me feel good sometimes when I get tight) in no way was meant to support those without training giving medical recommendations.
Thanks for your comments and for allowing me to clarify!
Best,
D
October 6th, 2009 at 10:16 am
Dr Dressler,
Do you know of any lab that does NK cell studies like they do in humans? The reason I want to know how my dogs Natural killer cells are doing is going to help dictate which holistic therapies I use. Dannon has Mass cell sarcoma that is supposed to be a grade 1 but I greatly disagree. He currently is getting reduced glutathione as well as IP6 but I really dont know if his immune system is hypo or hyper. So with that being said I really just have to guess at this point. In humans who are treated alternativly this is a must. I have contacted Dr Jamie from the university of Minnesota and he said he dosent know of any lab that has even done any of this sort of testing yet on dogs. They have only tested on mice and humans. Dr Jamie claims(they are the authority on humans) I guess thatmost people just do chemo which isnt in my vocabulary. This makes it hard to do the very best in treatment of my dog when one of the most important things isnt even in existance for dogs yet. Talk about frustration!!! I have also run across a glutathione that really does asorb great that is taken orally by prescribtion but again if Dannon’s immune system is hyper this isnt a good thing as well as the IP6. Dannon also takes Aller C which is quecertin and bromalin and vit c w/bioflav. (This stops the histamine release which is good for mass cell I am told with out supressing his immune system). He currently is on Angio stop and Revilvin by Dr Chi, and off of his neoplasene since he seemed to get to dried out and ichey. We will see how well this works. If you would like info on Dr Chi’s products you can go to http://www.chi-health.com for more info on his product’s for cancer as well as others. Dr Chi claims that many veterinarians are using these products with great sucess for many types of cancers..I would be curious to see what you think.Anyways any help would be great that for all you do,
Sincerely Kammee