Comments on: Mast Cell Tumors in Dogs: some advances in conventional care

By: Donna Walker

Donna Walker — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:12:22 +0000

Dr.Dressler, It saddens me to report that the evening of August 19th JOSIE lost her battle with cancer. I am beyond sorrow. My heart is full of pain that this world had to loose such a tender soul such as hers.I may never have that deep of a friendship ever again.She was truly THE ULTIMATE GOLDEN GIRL. I’m getting angry now about a country that can’t do better than this for their pets. We all have a responsibility to demand better research and care for what for some is the most significant relationship they will ever have. Josie was not just our house pet.From the beginning as a puppy she didn’t want to be left behind so she would travel with us everywhere.Josie was content to sit in our seat while we “got our hair cut” or “ran into the store for milk etc.She didn’t care where she was going, just take me for a drive.Sometimes we would get her a dish or cone of fresh vanilla ice cream from the dairy farm. When she wasn’t busy watching over the homefront she was either out training at the Hunt Club to hunt and retrieve birds or she was out in the wild hunting and fetching birds. She absolutely loved life. Whatever, whenever, whoever-She Loved Everything and she loved well and Always with a good balanced energy. She just knew how to act or react in any given situation.My Husband and I are sure that she was here before us and came back to be with us and share our lives.I was Blessed beyond words to have the honor to care for Josie for 5 1/2 years. Rest now Josie for you and I will meet again, soon. XOXO Josie’s mommy, Donna Walker

By: Donna Walker

Donna Walker — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 05:10:50 +0000

Dr. Dressler, Thank You for writing your book. I purchased it in June just after we learned that our Beautiful 5 1/2 yo Golden Josie was diagnosed with grade 3 mast cell cancer.Prior to that she had two surgeries and three tumors removed.One clean margin, one not so clean and one removed with a lymph node.We were not told of the severity of her disease at the time and only after searching on the internet did I realize that Josie was going to die soon.We switched her to a raw/rare food diet along with Transfer Factor and nutritional supplements then we found a holistic vet who performs kinesiology and she added some tinctures and detox drops for her food. It was about 3 weeks into that treatment before I realized that she wasn’t treating her for the cancer and Josies belly got hot and reddish/purple and 5 tumors began growing .She is now on LutiMax and 40mg. pred 2x a day and initially they were shrinking.Sunday night they blew up and two have hardened.She is taking something for liver support &.benadryl.Tomorrow we have an appt with a new Holistic Dr.My husband is against any more surgery and I am running out of time to save Josie from a horrible death.I think it is shameful that people who love their pets should have to waste precious time searching for the info to help their loved one.Why isn’t this information out there? The oncologist told us in June that Josie would be gone in 4 months and we should take her home and enjoy the rest of her life with her.She said we shouldn’t make changes to her diet because in the larger picture it wouldn’t matter.Josies favorite treats are cheddar cheese and vanilla ice cream.The oncologist said that if she enjoys it then give it to her.Those treats would feed the cancer and kill her faster! Well, in hind sight maybe she was right.Josie’s recent flare-up looks bad and after the pred and lutimax I don’t know what else there is to try.Please don’t stop spreading the word about alternative care. Everybody needs to be educated. Thank You again.Donna Walker

By: Natalie

Natalie — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:53:30 +0000

Dr. Dressler,
My basset hound, Georgie, is 6 years old and just had surgery for 3 mast cell tumors. (one on chest, one near profuse and one on side.) He previously had surgery for one on his chest 2 years ago. He had puppy strangles when we got him and in the past 2 years he has had a swollen muzzle and then a swollen leg which each led to a trip to the emergency clinic. We are childless and are so very blessed with him. He is truly our life. The vet has spoken to an oncologist about starting chemo but quality of life is of the utmost importance so that may not happen. What spice/supplement regimen do you suggest. I just started him on a half tsp of tumeric. Whatever you can suggest will be greatly appreciated- especially other clinics or doctors or trials. We just love him so much.
Many thanks.

By: Ray

Ray — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:30:45 +0000

Dear Dr. Dressler,

Our 4 year old boxer had a fairly large grade 2 mast cell tumor removed from his lower front leg last year, and clean margins weren’t obtained. Our vet had wanted to go back in shortly after but decided against it when it healed up really well. Now there appears to be a soft, fatty lump above the surgery site. This area also swells up quite large from time to time, but only for a day or so before returning to it’s present state. We’ve gotten another needle biopsy done and are awaiting the results. My question is, since the surgery was 17 months ago, wouldn’t this area be cancer free, and what would cause the occasional swelling? The fatty lump hasn’t grown much in over 2 months, and I’ve read that liposarcoma grows fast, so I’m hoping it is just a lipoma. It doesn’t feel like it’s attached to the muscle either. Thanks, Ray

By: Dr. Dressler

Dr. Dressler — Mon, 03 May 2010 10:33:51 +0000

Dear Rosanne, So sorry to hear about Jake. options I would consider (under veterinary supervision) 1. Apocaps 2. have your vet contact Dr. Albert Ahn at Ab sciences to see if Jake qualifies for compassionate use of masitinib 3. topical neoplasine 4. diet changes and the tons of other things in the Guide. Best, Dr D

By: Rosanne

Rosanne — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:08:46 +0000

My Rottweiller/lab cross, Jake, turned 10 in February. That same month, he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in his toe as well as a stage one mass on his shoulder (I can’t remember the technical name for the mass, but we were told that it is the kind of cancer that generally does not spread). He had his toe amputated and the mass removed. He has recovered well from the surgeries, but we just found out that he has a mast cell tumour between his toes on his back leg (not the foot that had the toe amputated). The cytologist felt it was a stage one cancer. We’re reluctant to put him through another surgery and can’t really afford to keep undergoing expensive treatments (we’ve already spent $5,000). My vet suggested trying injections of triamcinolone. Would you recommend this? You also mentioned lomustine in your blog. Would this be something we should try in conjunction with the the triamcinolone? I realize that he has reached the life expectancy of a dog of his size, but I would like to give him at least a few more months if possible. The thought of saying goodbye is heartbreaking. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks – Rosanne.

By: Dr. Dressler

Dr. Dressler — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:54:15 +0000

Dear Cindy,
I am so sorry to hear about this. You may want to consider getting your vet enrolled in the compassionate use program at AB Sciences in New Jersey and access the pre-FDA approval drug masitinib, which has helped it cases like your dog. Next, dogs need help supporting normal apoptosis levels, as well as helping to stabilize mast cell release of histamine:
http://www.dogcancerblog.com/mast-cells-and-luteolin-in-cancer-treatment-part-1/
http://www.dogcancerblog.com/apoptosis-and-dog-cancer/
apocaps was designed with luteolin to support normal apoptosis levels.

Consider dietary changes:
http://www.dogcancerblog.com/diet-for-dogs-with-mast-cell-tumors/
That should get you started. There is more in the Guide, of course, but that’s a good start.
Best,
Dr D

By: Cindy Dougherty

Cindy Dougherty — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:39:22 +0000

Dear Dr. D
I would love to get your opinions on Nonconventional treatment I have a 6 year old American Bull Dog diagnosed with MCT Level 2 she has had 6 Tumor removals and still has several small ones on her. (Face, legs, neck) I did take her to the Oncologist where she went under treatment of Palladia. After several thousand dollars later she still has this cancer we stopped treatment due to the lack of funds. Last month I brought her back to my vet to have several tumors removed ( with a 3 month lapse) and consulted with the Oncologist today, she is stating that we can try Lomustine 60 Mg (1 40 mg, 2 10 Mg) or Vinblastine. and we wont even talk about the cost. I LOVE MY ABBEY. and want to do the best for her she is still young and full of energy. I have searched the Web for ideas and came across Nonconventional Treatment and was wanting your opinion of it.

Thank you so much for a response.
Cindy Dougherty

By: brett g.

brett g. — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:48:00 +0000

DR D.

I WOULD LIKE SOME ADVICE ON ORAL NEOPLASENE FOR MY 5 YEAR OLD GOLDEN-MAX.HE HAS A FIROSRCOMA OF THE MUZZLE X8 MO.HE IS DOING VERY WELL-EATING, PLAYING, ACTING NORMAL.WE SEE A VET ONCOLOGIST THAT HAS HIM ON PALLADIA AND RYMADYL 75MG. X2 MONTHS.THE MASS SEEEMS FAIRLY STABLE ACCORDING TO HER, BUT HAS HAD SOME SLIGHT INCREASE FROM 2 WEEKS AGO.I WOULOD LIKE A MORE AGGRESSIVE PLAN.SHE SAID PALLIATIVE RADIATION-BUT I DO NOT HAVE THE $2500 THAT IT WOULD TAKE, AND WITH THIS TYPE OF TUMOR SHE SAID IT PROBABLY WOULD NOT SHRINK BUT WOULD SLOW THE GROWTH.I HAVE HIM ON 5000MG OF FISH OIL, VARIETY OF MUSHROOMS, MULTI VITAMIN,EVO DOG FOOD, AND WOULD LIKE TO START ON EGCG AND LUTEOLIN ROTATED EVERY 2 WEEKS.I KNOW IM NOT SUPPOSE TO MIX THE TWO ACCORDING TO YOUR BOOK(WHICH IS FANTASTIC!).THE ONCOLOGIST IS VERY TRADITIONAL AND I FEEL I HAVE NOTHING TO LOOSE WITH MAX.HE ONLY 5 IN GOOD SHAPE AND HEALTH, OTHER THAN THE FIBROSARCOMA OF HIS NOSE, WHICH DID NOT SHOW ANY SIGN OF METASTIZING TO LUNGS,LIVER, OR LYMPH.I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT ORAL NEOPLASENE, AND WOOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT USING THE ORAL(DO NOT WANT TO TOUCH THE TOPICAL DO TO LOCATION OF SINUS AND EYES).CAN I USE THE ORAL WITH PALLADIA?OR IF MASS GROWS MORE SHOULD I DROP THE PALLADIA DO TO ITS WEAK OUTCOMES THAT I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT AND TRY THE ORAL NEOPLASENE.I KNOW YOUR TIME IS VERY VALUABLE AND SHORT WITH SO MANY BLOGS AND E-MAILS, BUT I WOULD TRULY APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE OR COMMENT.THANK YOU FROM ME AND MAX!

By: Dr. Dressler

Dr. Dressler — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:32:47 +0000

William
the ultrasound is a good idea. Painless, good information. If the scan is clean a wide excision, as you brought up, is a very good idea. Vaguely 90% of grade 2 mast cell tumors are cured with a wide excision (no radiation). Median survival time of dogs receiving conventional veterinary care with grade 2 mast cell tumors having a mitotic index under five is 70 months. Mandy is 8 years old. 70 months added on to that is 13.5-14 years of age. This is perhaps a year under average life expectancy (as a guess) for a dog like yours, in other words, close to a full life. Bottom line, I would look at these stats and decide whether radiation makes sense for you in the overall analysis of life expectancy and median survival times.

“However, there is some concern that even if they perform the second surgery, the pathologist won’t be able to determine conclusively if there are “clean margins.”” This is due to micrometastasis:

http://www.dogcancerblog.com/dog-cancer-what-is-micrometastasis-and-why-do-we-care/

Hope this helps,
Dr D